Hornbach moves up

The year 2001 brought changes to the ranking of the leading group of German DIY retailers by sales. Hornbach advanced from sixth to fourth position, thereby moving Hagebau (previously number four) and Rewe with Toom (previously number five) down one  place each. According to a statistical supplement that has just been brought out by diy-Branchenmagazin, positions one to three are still filled by OBI, Praktiker/Top-Bau and Bauhaus. The statistics also reveal that the German DIY multiples opened 102 new stores in the period under consideration. These included 31 outlets abroad. The 30 biggest groups in the sector have on balance 178 more stores than one year ago.