Fully up to expectations

The DIY retail chains in Finland can look back over a year that developed in line with their expectations. Market leader Rautakesko with its two formats, K-Rauta (43 stores) and Rautia (102), grew sales by 8.5 per cent to a total of € 731.1 mio. Estimates made by the company suggest that it now accounts for a market share of 35 per cent.
Starkki announced a sales increase of four per cent. And Värisilmä and Teesi, the two retail channels specialising in paint and interior decoration, also point to increasing sales that are mainly the result of end-consumer purchases.
There were only three new openings in Finland during the year 2004. Two stores were opened by Clas Ohlson, a company that originated in Sweden and has now achieved widespread recognition in Finland. It hopes to be operating at a profit from this year. Bauhaus was responsible for one of the new openings, a 19 000 m² store inaugurated at Tampere in December. One new opening is planned for this year in Helsinki.