Further expansion at Bunnings

The DIY chain Bunnings, part of the Home Improvement Division of Australian retail group Wesfarmers, saw its sales grow to AUS$ 1.730 bn in the first quarter of fiscal 2011/2012 (July to September), an increase of 8.5 per cent on the same period in the previous year. The increase in like-for-like sales was 6.3 per cent. In this quarter, the division opened three Bunnings Warehouse stores and two specialist retail centres. 13 further new stores are currently under construction. Bunnings has a share amounting to nearly a fifth of the Australian home improvement and outdoor living market, which is worth AUS$ 36 bn. Its sales in the last financial year came to AUS$ 6.8 bn. John Gillam, managing director of Bunnings, has announced further expansion, saying at an event at Spoga+Gafa in Cologne in September that 10 to 14 new openings per year were planned. Bunnings currently operates 197 stores in the Warehouse format, 59 smaller DIY stores and 37 specialist retail outlets.