French retailer Auchan has reported on its full-year results for the 12 months to the end of December, with net earnings down 19 per cent to €656m, hit by one-off items and what the group called 'unfavourable comparisons'.
Revenues climbed 5.8 per cent to €46.9bn as growth markets in Asia as well as central and eastern Europe performed well, but operating proft fell 14 per cent to €1.24bn.
The retailer warned that continued economic uncertainty in some of its key markets would continue to make life difficult in 2013.
'Despite continued economic strife in Europe in 2012, the Auchan Group succeeded in recording good revenue growth, notably underpinned by the supermarkets and the growth drivers provided by Russia, China and the Drive format,' said chairman Vianney Mulliez, who also warned that '2013 is set to be a difficult year'.
