Developments in Italy

Bricomagazine, a trade journal, reports on new participants in the Italian DIY market. Included for the first time in their statistics for 2011 is Brico Eight, with five stores and a combined sales area of 5 600 m². The company joined the Bricolife cooperative organisation on 1 March 2012. The second new arrival is the Brikocasa chain, which is part of Gruppo Ferrigno. This company is a former franchisee of Brico Io but has broken away from the cooperative, taking with it six outlets and a combined sales area of 7 160 m².On the other hand, the Jo-Ho DIY chain is withdrawing from the market altogether. According to the report the company has gone into liquidation. One of the final total of nine stores has already been closed and four more are to follow. The remaining four stores are up for sale.