German retailer Metro reported a 0.1 percent rise in like-for-like sales in its fiscal first quarter that includes the important Christmas period, with performance particularly strong at its core businesses in Germany. Sales in the October to December quarter fell 1.5 percent to 17.1 billion euros ($18.6 billion), although the decline was largely due to currency effects like the weaker Russian rouble and its disposal of businesses in Denmark, Greece and Vietnam.
Metro said on January 12 it had a "very good Christmas business" in Germany, with like-for-like sales up 2.1 percent in December and it confirmed the group's full-year forecast, which foresees a slight rise in overall sales and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), excluding special items.
Europe's fourth-biggest retailer is emerging from several years of restructuring and disposals including the recent sale of its Kaufhof department stores and its cash and carry business in Vietnam, which closed this month.
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