Colruyt has announced that sales during the first nine months of its financial year improved by 7.5 per cent compared with 2008/09, up to €5.1bn from €4.8bn during the year-earlier period.
According to the Belgium-based discount retailer, the improved result for the period of 1 April 2009 to 31 December 2009 was down to Colruyt's low price strategy, encouraging higher sales at a time when customers were shopping more prudently.
The retail operation of the group, made up mainly by Colruyt stores, saw sales rise by 6.8 per cent to €4bn, while wholesale and foodservice activities saw sales increase by 11.8 per cent to €902m.
Important factors that had impacted on Colruyt's nine-month results had been the economic downturn, harsh winter weather conditions and inflation, the group said.
