Praktiker forges ahead with expansion as it awaits crisis effects

Expanding our store network countrywide remains our number one priority. The downward global trend is adjusting the perspectives that all large companies were considering early this year. We are certainly also taking this into account, but it does not affect our current expansion plan,” said Vosskaemper.

Praktiker has 24 stores in Romania and posted a rise in sales of more than 60 percent in 2007, up to €251.4 mln. The company’s main competitor is Bricostore, with eight stores which generated €180 mln in business in 2007. Other players on this market include bauMax, Hornbach, OBI, Mr. Bricolage, and Tekzen. The value of the do-it-yourself retail market is estimated by its players at €2 billion.