More openings than planned

Ace Hardware, the American cooperative, achieved a sales increase of 1.9 per cent over sales in the first nine months of 2002 at a volume of US $ 2.323 bn (€ 1.944 bn). The third quarter, which notched up growth of 3.4 per cent, accounted for US $ 768.8 mio (€ 643.5 mio) of the total. President and Chief Executive Officer David Hodnik expects that sales will be up for the year 2003 overall. He also announced that Ace will exceed its current goal of opening around 90 000 m² of new retail space this year by between ten and 15 per cent.