Further growth in double figures forecast

Home Depot is anticipating an increase of nine to twelve per cent in sales in the current year. It also plans to open 175 new stores. At the end of the 2003/2004 financial year, the global DIY market leader operated 1,707 outlets, with 1,515 Home Depot stores in the USA, 102 in Canada and 18 in Mexico. Its branch network also includes 54 Expo Design Centres, 11 HD Landscape Supply outlets, five HD Supply locations and two Home Depot Floor Stores. The company opened 64 stores during the last quarter.