Praktiker takes another look at Ukraine

It is apparent that the German Praktiker Group is considering an alternative to the withdrawal from Ukraine that had been announced. Instead of closing the four stores by the end of 2013, a joint venture with an international or local partner is also being seen as a possible solution. “But we need more time for such a scenario;” is what a Ukrainian daily paper quotes a company spokesperson as saying. According to the press report, the possibility of cooperation with Leroy Merlin from the French Groupe Adeo is under consideration. But Alexei Revin, Ukraine boss of Leroy Merlin, was not prepared to comment on the matter. His answer to the question on this subject put by the interviewer from www.ua-retail.com: “I am obliged to maintain secrecy about this information at the moment.” However, the formats and sizes of the Praktiker stores would not provide a direct fit with the Leroy Merlin concept.