Quester pulls out of Hagebau

Bauprofi Quester, the Austrian member of Hagebau, will be leaving the voluntary group as of 31 December 2003. According to a press release on the subject, with the reorganisation of merchandise purchase the company is going for an autonomous range of services. “As we see it, working directly with our suppliers is the next logical step,” is the explanation offered by Albert Blümke, director of Quester’s market activities. The new profile differs substantially from the structure of the Hagebau group, which is based on small and medium-sized members. Helmut Kus, director of Hagebau Austria, is also of the opinion that Quester has outgrown this homogeneous structure. He intends to respond to a greater extent on the wishes of the group’s small and medium-sized businesses. Both parties rate their five-year collaboration as a success. Quester, which is regarded as the biggest builders’ merchant in Austria, became a member of Hagebau in 1998. At present the company operates 27 locations and achieved sales of € 275 mio in the year 2002.