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NEWS
Kika/Leiner denies report on planned store closures
With the clear statement “all furniture stores will be re- tained”, Kika/Leiner managing director Reinhold Gütebier refutes corresponding rumours. Prior to this, there were re- ports that the Signa Group, which took over Kika/Leiner four years ago, wanted to part with several of the company’s 42 outlets. Furthermore, the Austrian trade fair reported that Kika/Leiner was close to breakeven with a turnover of EUR 740 million and a net loss of EUR 84 million. The increase in online sales was particularly significant.
Höffner furniture stores: Hoffmann succeeds Dankert
There is a change in top management at Höffner furniture stores. On 4 October, Joachim Hoffman took over as CEO, replacing Thomas Dankert. Hoffmann has been with the company since 2006 and held several management positions. Thomas Dankert (65) worked for Höffner for 30 years. “We are very proud of this success and grateful for his tireless commitment. Thomas Dankert will continue to be available to the corporate group, providing the benefit of his experience,” said a spokesman at company headquarters.
XXXLutz acquires a stake in Braun Möbel-Center
The expansion of the XXXLutz Group continues. The Aus- trian furniture group has announced acquisition of a 50% stake in Braun Möbel-Center. Braun operates 10 furniture stores in the south and south-west of Germany. With a
good 1,000 employees, Braun is targeting turnover of over EUR 200 million for 2022.
“The newly acquired businesses are an ideal fit for the XXXL concept, and are market leaders at their locations thanks to their superior selection,” explains Thomas Sa- liger, company spokesman for the XXXLutz Group. “For me, it was important to be able to ensure the strategic fur- ther development of the Braun locations and of online re- tailing by teaming up with the market leader in Germany. Our 50/50 partnership will guarantee that the interests of both parties are equitably upheld”, says Matthias Bader, Managing Director and owner of Braun-Möbel-Center GmbH & Co KG. Management will remain in the hands of the previous owner Matthias Bader and long-standing Managing Director Christoph Bürker. The deal is subject to approval by the cartel authorities.
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I / 2023
Victoria: organic growth of almost 8 percent
Victoria reports record turnover of GBP 776.1 million (EUR 898.9 million) for the first half of the financial year 2022/23 (1 October). The increase of 58.7 % com- pared to the same period last year is mainly due to the acquisition of parts of the Belgian Balta Group and
of Turkish ceramic tile manufacturer Graniser. And the British flooring group still recorded 7.7 % organic growth despite difficult economic conditions. Victoria improved its EBITDA by 18.5 % to 100.1 million GBP.
PHOTO: BRAUN MÖBEL CENTER