Rossmann ups sales in ČR to CZK 2.38bn in 2011

Prague, Sept 5 (CTK) - Chemist's chain Rossmann raised its net profit in the Czech Republic by 13 percent year-on-year to Kc25.6m last year and its sales grew by about Kc72m to Kc2.38bn, according to the firm's annual report.

The company has undergone a successful period of significant changes that led to a profit for the third successive year, the management said.

Rossmann expects its turnover and profit to grow in the following years as well.

The chain opened 7 new outlets and closed another 10, running a total of 110 outlets on the Czech market at the end of 2011.

The first Rossmann outlet in the Czech Republic was opened in 1994. The firm was making losses from that time, and in 2008 its loss reached Kc90.1m, with accumulated losses of previous years totalling Kc658m at end-2010.

Rossmann made the first profit in the Czech Republic in 2009, when it earned Kc1.2m.

The parent company Rossmann Central Europe lent Kc123m to the Czech stores in 2006 to boost their performance.

Rossmann Central Europe is a joint venture of A. S. Watson Group of Hong Kong and German chain Rossmann. Rossmann Central Europe runs outlets in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Turkey and Albania.