Hornbach's DIY store sales rise by 1.1 percent

At Hornbach Baumarkt AG, sales revenues rose by 1.1 percent to EUR 4,659.2 mio in the first nine months (2023/24: EUR 4,608.7 mio). On a like-for-like basis and net of currency items, sales also rose by 1.1 percent over the same period (2023/24: -2.2 percent). As of 30 November 2024, the Hornbach Group subgroup operated a total of 171 DIY and garden stores and online shops in nine European countries.

The international share of sales at the subgroup rose to 52.2 per cent in the nine-month period (2023/24: 51.7 per cent). According to Hornbach, this was driven by net sales growth of 2.0 per cent to EUR 2,431.1 mio in the "Rest of Europe" segment (2023/24: EUR 2,383.4 million). On a like-for-like basis and net of currency items, sales in the "Rest of Europe" rose by 1.8 per cent (2023/24: -0.9 per cent). In Germany, the DIY stores generated net sales at the previous year's level (2024/25: EUR 2,228.0 mio; 2023/24: EUR 2,225.2 mio). On a like-for-like basis and net of currency items, the subgroup's sales in Germany grew by 0.4 per cent (2023/24: -3.5 per cent).

Market share gains

In Germany, Hornbach Baumarkt's market share rose to 15.1 percent in 2024 (as of October) (2023: 15.0 percent), while in the Czech Republic it increased to 37.7 percent (2023: 36.2 per cent), in the Netherlands to 27.8 per cent (2023: 26.9 per cent) and in Switzerland to 14.5 per cent (2023: 14.1 per cent).

In the first nine months of the financial year, the online business (including Click & Collect) contributed a 12.4 per cent share of the subgroup's total sales (2023/24: 12.9 per cent). Compared with the previous year's period, online sales in 2024/25 fell by 3 per cent to EUR 578.0 mio.

According to the company, the Hornbach Baustoff Union subgroup continued to be affected by the weakness in the German construction industry and generated sales of EUR 295.4 mio in the first nine months (2023/24: EUR 317.2 mio).

Further growth targeted in Europe

The Hornbach Group as a whole increased its sales by 1.3 per cent to EUR 1,505.1 mio in the third quarter of 2024/25. The DIY store operator reported that it benefited significantly from a positive performance in its European business area. However, customers continued to hold back on larger projects and opportunistic purchases. At EUR 4,950.8 mio, sales in the first nine months of 2024/25 were at the same level as in the previous year's period (+0.5 per cent).

In view of the solid business performance in 2024/25, Hornbach stressed that its earnings forecast remained unchanged. Sales were expected to match the previous year's level (EUR 6,161 million). "Despite the challenges facing consumer confidence, we are very satisfied with customer demand and confident about our results for the current financial year", comments Erich Harsch, CEO of Hornbach Baumarkt AG. "Our presence in several European countries is a strength, and we will continue to grow organically in Europe, where we see attractive opportunities for expansion. At the end of February, we will be reopening our store in Nuremberg. Further new store openings in Germany, Austria, and Romania will follow in the 2025/26 financial year."