Obi sets the pace

In the rump 2008 fiscal year (1 May to 31 December) Obi was able to increase sales by 5.3 per cent over the same period in the previous year to € 4.18 bn. The company is now represented in twelve other countries of Europe as well as Germany itself. Obi has a total of 525 branches throughout Europe and employs a workforce of 38 507 altogether, having opened new stores in Czechia, Hungary and Russia, in addition to entering the markets of Ukraine, Croatia and Romania. Detailed figures on the individual Obi countries can be found at DIYglobal plus under the Trade topics heading (also v. Other articles on this topic).