Good year in Belgium

According to information from Nielsen, the DIY chains in Belgium increased their sales by 12.4 per cent in the year 2003. At the end of that year the market research company counted 259 stores, which is eleven more outlets (a plus of 4.2 per cent) than one year previously. Nielsen calculates that these new outlets account for 2.1 percentage points of the growth rate, assuming that six months’ worth of sales are included in the figures. The independent retailers and small buying groups experienced a less positive development: their sales remained stagnant at the previous year’s level.