First half-year 2010: Fielmann expands market share
First half 2010: Profit up by 8 per cent
2010: Fielmann takes on 850 new trainees
Our expectations for the first half of 2010 have been met. While the rest of the optical industry recorded a 3 per cent decline in unit sales in the first six months, Fielmann increased its unit sales by 1per cent to 3.1 million pairs of glasses. External sales including VAT climbed to € 573.7 million (previous year: € 548.3 million) and consolidated sales to € 487.4 million (previous year: € 464.5 million). Pre-tax profit rose by 8 per cent to € 78.2 million (previous year: € 72.2 million) and profit after tax to € 55.0 million (previous year: € 50.8 million).
In the second quarter, Fielmann sold 1.6 million pairs of glasses and achieved external sales of € 292.7 million (previous year: € 280.4 million) and consolidated sales of € 250.3 million (previous year: € 238.2 million). Fielmann increased its quarterly pretax profit to € 41.3 million (previous year: € 39.2 million), with profit after tax of € 29.1 million (previous year: € 27.7 million).
As at 30 June 2010, Fielmann operated 649 branches (previous year: 631). As at the end of the second quarter of 2010, we employed a staff of 13,200, of whom 2,337 are trainees. With a 5 per cent share of optician's stores in Germany, Fielmann trains 33 per cent of all trainees in the optical industry. More than 850 young people in Germany and other countries are starting their training with Fielmann this year.
By resolution of the Annual General Meeting on 8 July 2010, the Supervisory Board now comprises sixteen members who are listed by name in the interim report as at 30 June 2010.
Fielmann is confident that it will be able to expand its market position. In difficult economic times, consumers are attracted to companies that guarantee them high quality at reasonable prices and in the optical industry, this means Fielmann. For the full year, we are expecting growth in unit sales, sales revenue and earnings. This year we are planning to open 20 new branches and employ a staff complement of more than 13,600 (previous year: 13,235).
Hamburg, August 2010
Dr. Matthias Branahl, Head of Press and Public Relations,
tel.: +49 40 / 270 76 – 457
Ulrich Brockmann, Head of Investor Relations,
tel. +49 40 / 270 76 – 442