Growth through expansion

Baumax, the market leader in the Austrian DIY market, increased its group sales by four per cent in 2003. The increase was generated primarily by Baumax outlets in Central and Eastern European countries. Here 52 stores increased their sales by eleven per cent, bringing in 413 mio € and contributing 45 per cent of overall sales. The volume of 503 mio € achieved by Baumax’s 70 stores in Austria was 0.8 per cent down on the previous year. However, the company believes that the new “Best in class” concept now operating in four stores in Austria and one store in each of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia also contributed to the overall increase. Baumax opened six new stores in these countries during the last year, and a further six should follow in 2004. The company is also preparing to enter the market in Romania and Bulgaria. Roughly half of Baumax’s sales are expected to be generated abroad by the end of the year.