More garden centres in Germany

The 30 largest garden centre operators (excluding Sagaflo and Egesa, since no complete retail area details are available for either) together had a total of 2 271 stores in July 2005. This indicates growth of 161 outlets compared with last year, 78 of them abroad.
These figures come from the publishing house of Dähne's compilation of new openings of garden centre and DIY retail groups, cooperative and franchise organisations during the period from late July 2004 to July 2005 – with the inclusion of garden centres both in Germany and abroad.
Since last year the top 30 companies have managed to increase their retail space by a total of 263 639 m², which is calculated from a gain of 279 550 m² and a loss of 15 911 m². This means that the growth of retail space in the period under consideration achieved an increase of almost 165 per cent on the previous year's rate. That year's figure showed an increase of 61 per cent.
The Top 10 among the 30 biggest operators accounted for 78 per cent of the 2 271 stores and 77 per cent of the 4.5 mio m² of floorspace. They also recorded the greatest percentage growth: 6.9 per cent in terms of outlets (+114) and 6.8 per cent in terms of retail floorspace (+221 500 m2). The second group of 10 recorded 9 more outlets, which amounts to growth of 2.5 per cent, together with a 31 722 m² (4.6 per cent) increase in retail area.
When the combined retail area is compared with the previous year's figures, Hagebau/Zeus and Hornbach achieved the greatest percentage growth among the Top 10. Hagebau and Zeus must now be viewed in combination, following the start of their buying and distribution cooperation and 50 per cent participation on 1 January 2005. Consequently they have supplanted Dehner in second place. Hornbach now occupies fourth place ahead of Bauhaus. Dehner achieves its total retail area with just 96 garden centres, whereas those ranking ahead of the group have more than 380 outlets each.
Obi and Hagebau/Zeus are responsible for the greatest growth in stores. They each have 42 more than last year, followed by NBB egesa (11) and Bauhaus (7), as well as Dehner and Hornbach (5 each). An increase of four outlets each on last year was notched up by Rewe, Praktiker, Max Bahr and I&M Interbaustoff. Blumen Risse, Hellweg and Krämer/Wir Gärtner recorded three-store growth. Bringing up the rear are Marktkauf/Dixi and EMV (+2 each) and Hamburg-Ring (+1). A negative end result emerged for Wal-Mart, with 8 fewer outlets than last year, and…