Profit downturn

The Swedish DIY retailer Clas Ohlson ended the first quarter of 2008/2009 with sales of SEK 1.114 bn (€ 164.4 mio). This amounts to growth of 8 per cent by comparison with the same period last year. The outlets in Sweden, Norway and Finland accounted for SEK 1.091 bn (€ 114 mio) of the total, and the mail order business for SEK 23 mio (€ 2.4 mio). The group’s profit went down by 24 per cent on the corresponding period last year to SEK 109 mio (€ 11.4 mio).