Sales growth

Rona, a Canadian DIY retailer and distributor, achieved sales of C $ 3.742 bn in the retail segment in 2008. This amounts to an increase of 1.4 per cent over the previous year (-4 per cent in same-store terms). Operating income went down by 7.5 per cent to C $ 300 mio. The EBITDA margin for retail activities came to 8.02 per cent (2007: 8.79 per cent). With the inclusion of sales of C $ 2.357 bn from distribution activities (+1.3 per cent), Rona achieved consolidated sales of C $ 6.099 bn (+1.4 per cent) last year. Net earnings went down by 13.4 per cent compared with 2007 to C $ 160.2 mio.