Austrian 3e AG increased sales by 3.7 per cent in 2022

The Austrian cooperative 3e AG has had what it claims is the most successful financial year in its history. Sales grew by 3.7 per cent year-on-year to EUR 735 mio in 2022. A large share of this resulted from the 3e-International division with an increase of 7.6 per cent to EUR 198 mio. In Austria, sales of the group of specialist tool traders rose by 2.3 per cent to EUR 537 mio.

This was mainly due to growth and expansion by 3e member Zeka-comerc in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which alone opened three new stores, and member Okov in Montenegro, which expanded its stores and opened a new specialist store outside its national borders in Serbia. In addition to sales, the retail group also increased its membership, particularly in the international sector, to a total of 321 companies in Austria and eleven countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Despite the growing importance of the online trade, stationary stores still form the mainstay because of the specialist advice and services they provide, according to a statement on the figures. For this reason, the omnichannel concept already introduced in 2019 under the Let's do it Store 4.0 brand is becoming increasingly significant. In some of these stores, the online share of sales is currently just under 20 per cent. Three more 4.0 stores are already planned for this year.