Hagebau in the black

Hagebau, the German builders’ merchant and DIY retail cooperative group, ended the year 2003 with centrally invoiced sales of € 3.096 bn, amounting to an increase of 4.3 per cent. A total of € 2.795 bn (plus 5.3 per cent) was generated in Germany and € 301 mio in Austria (minus 3.7 per cent). However, the retail arm recorded a slightly downward trend of 0.6 per cent below the previous year’s figure. The builders’ and timber merchant arm saw growth of 7.5 per cent. Retail sales in Austria remained unchanged, whereas the building materials and timber trade recorded a drop of 6.2 per cent. These figures were announced today at Hagebau’s winter workshop in Hanover. At year’s end the group had 250 voluntary members in Germany (compared with the previous year’s 244) with 942 (931) outlets. There was no change in Austria, where 29 voluntary members operated 155 (149) outlets. However, the departure from the group of its big member, Quester, explains the significant decline in sales here.