Hungary

The combined retail area of the organised DIY store operators in Hungary increased by around 17 per cent to 340 600 m² in 2004. This resulted from an increase of six (13 per cent) in the total number of stores. The greatest increase in outlets is attributable to Obi, which had three more stores in operation than in 2003. The other three operators, Praktiker, Baumax and Bricostore, each numbered one more outlet at the end of 2004 than one year previously.
In November Praktiker started up its new store in Szolnok, an outlet with a weighted retail area of 6 000 m², and one of the new Obi stores also opened in Szolnok. This was 9 100 m² in size. One more Obi was inaugurated at Dunaújvaros (7 500 m²). Baumax expects to open one new store at Pecs this year.