Losses at home and abroad

Ace Hardware, the American dealer-owned hardware cooperative, recorded sales down by 10.4 per cent to US $ 3.5 bn for the 2009 financial year. After discounting the effect of the 2008 financial year being set at 53 weeks, this results in a loss of 9.5 per cent. The greatest setbacks in domestic operations were experienced by the electrical and tools categories. In contrast to this, the garden categories experienced an increase. Sales figures abroad fell by 16.8 per cent. Most badly affected by the sales shrinkage were the regions of South and Central America, along with the Middle East. The total number of outlets came to 4 491 at the end of the year, after 120 additions and 210 departures.