Auchan's net sales grow by 7.5%

French retailer's net sales reached EUR39.5 billion and EBITDA increased by 9.2% to EUR2.26 billion.

A good performance was registered in
France, posting a 3.1% increase in net sales to EUR19.6 billion with
Auchan hypermarkets posting a 2.7% increase in sales to EUR15.3
billion.

Internationally, growth was underpinned
by robust like-for-like performances in all countries except Spain,
Italy and Taiwan. Like-for-like sales nonetheless remained stable in
these three countries despite the difficult economic conditions.
Global supermarket sales reached EUR6.9 billion in 2008, up 2.9%, due
to growth in Eastern European markets and the good performances of
supermarkets converted to the Simply Market banner.