Three major Austrian concerns to buy jointly in future

The Austrian building materials and DIY store groups 3 E-AG, Hagebau and Öbau are combining their purchasing activities, thus creating what is reported to be the biggest purchasing cooperative in the country. The accumulated sales of the companies amount to 2.154 bn €, equivalent to around 46 per cent of Austria’s overall market volume of 4.675 bn €, according to a press conference held today by the managing directors of the three partners in Vienna.
There are logistical advantages to be had in addition to those with regard to procurement: the central warehouse in Wels used hitherto only by the members of 3 E-AG and Öbau is now also available to Hagebau members. The three groups of companies will continue to operate independently of one another on the sales front.