Seven per cent plus for Bunnings

Bunnings, the DIY chain with operations in Australia and New Zealand, concluded its 2012/2013 financial year (to 30 June 2013) with sales totalling AUD 7.652 bn. That is 7.0 per cent more than the previous year. it breaks down into a 6.4 per cent increase for the company’s consumer business and 9.6 per cent for the trade side. In like-for-like terms the DIY group, which is part of the Wesfarmers conglomerate, achieved growth of 4.4 per cent. Sales in the fourth quarter proved to be well above average. During this period they experienced an increase of 10.2 per cent to AUD 1.784 bn, or 6.9 per cent like-for-like. At the end of its financial year Bunnings had 210 warehouse-format stores in operation in Australia and New Zealand, which came to four more than a year before following ten openings and six closures. Added to this are 67 smaller outlets (previous year: 58) plus 36 wholesale locations. In conjunction with the announcement of the annual results, Bunnings also reaffirmed its growth plan. During the current business year the company intends to open at least 20 new Warehouse stores.