German retailer Metro Group today announced a rise in sales of 5.8 per cent for 2008, to reach a record €68bn. EBIT before special items grew by 7.1 per cent to €2.2bn.
Metro Group’s CEO, Dr Eckhard Cordes, commented: 'In a distinctly more difficult economic environment we fully met our guidance for the financial year 2008. This is something that only very few companies have been able to achieve.'
Although domestic sales rose by only 2 per cent to €26.7bn, international sales increased by 8.4 percent, reaching €41.3bn.
Such growth was aided by a substantial increase in sales in eastern Europe, which rose by 15.3 per cent to €18.1bn, and in Asia/Africa, where the group experienced a rise in sales of 18.6 per cent to €2.2bn.
According to the company, its recently launched value-enhancing programme, “Shape 2012”, should lay the foundation to guarantee the group’s long-term profitable growth.
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