Sales growth

The distribution channels of the French Mr. Bricolage Group achieved sales growth of 1.2 per cent to € 1.893 bn gross in 2008. The Mr. Bricolage stores finished the year with sales growth of 1.6 per cent to € 1.766 bn (-0.4 per cent like-for-like). Catena recorded a drop of 2.9 per cent to € 127.1 mio (+0.1 per cent like-for-like). There were 49 Mr. Bricolage outlets in operation abroad at the end of 2008. They accounted for sales of € 192.5 mio, which amounts to a 16.7 per cent increase (8.3 per cent like-for-like). At the close of the business year the group numbered 527 stores altogether, following 25 openings and 23 extensions. The sales area increased by 74 400 m² to 1 334 000 m².