Metro Group has released preliminary figures for the full year ending 31 December 2012 as well as fourth quarter results. The German retail group reported group sales growth of 1.2 per cent to €66.7 billion for the year, or an increase of 2.3 per cent, adjusting for the disposals of Makro UK and Saturn France during the year.
In local currency, group net sales grew by 0.8 per cent. EBIT before special items is forecast to be around €2 billion, down from €2.4 billion in 2011.
In financial year 2012, sales at Metro Cash & Carry rose 1.6 per cent to €31.6 billion, an increase of 0.7 per cent in local currency. The wholesaler's exit from the UK market had a "significantly negative impact" on sales growth. Adjusted for the disposal of the 30 Makro stores in the UK, sales were up by 3.2 per cent, and 3.4 per cent for the fourth quarter. The delivery business continued to grow, up to €2.2 billion from €1.6 billion in 2011.
Metro's Real hypermarket banner saw a 0.1 per cent decline to €11.0 billion, with weak non-food sales in its stores in eastern Europe. Fourth quarter sales rose 0.6 per cent to €3.1 billion.
The fourth quarter of saw group net sales rise by 0.5 per cent to €19.4 billion, with a 0.5 per cent drop, in local currency terms. The Christmas trading period provided "satisfactory" sales.
CEO Olaf Koch said, “Despite tougher market conditions, especially in Southern Europe, we succeeded in increasing sales in the fourth quarter." He continued, “The driving forces behind our customer-orientated business realignment have been the successful expansion of our delivery and multichannel activities, our product range and price positioning improvements as well as the further strengthening of our own brands.”
With 2,200 stores in 32 countries, the group opened 97 stores in 17 countries in 2012, and employs 280,000 people. (16 Jan)
© 2013 - ESM: European Supermarket Magazine by Gordon Hunt
