dm drug store chain: Large turnover plus and number one with

Whether in Austria or the subsidiary countries in south-east Europe: dm drug store chain Austria/CEE draws a highly pleasing interim balance for the business half year 2012/2013 (October to March): With a turnover increase of 6 percent to 355 million Euros, the drug store chain is even more successful in the Austrian home market than in 2012, and thereby developed significantly more than its competitors, the company informed. In addition, throughout Austria nearly 300 new jobs were created compared to the previous year.

What started in 1976 in Linz with the first dm branch is now successfully represented in eleven European countries – the dm sub-group Austria/CEE: In Austria and its 100 percent subsidiary countries - Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia - the drug store chain generated a turnover plus of 5.4 percent to 908 million Euros (exchange-rate-adjusted 5.3 percent to 898 million Euros) and thereby continues with the positive development from the previous year, the company reported.

"We regard the highly pleasing turnover growth in all countries as being a consequence of our consistent orientation towards the consumers, who appreciate the dm quality from the range offered, through the stores, up to the employees. The positive feedback from our customers and the economic success give us the opportunity to expand. Last year we were able to create 1,124 additional jobs and open 67 new branches in the sub-group," chairman of the dm management Mag. Martin Engelmann was pleased to comment.

In total the dm Group including dm Germany achieved a turnover volume in the first business half-year of 3,779 million Euros, which corresponds to a growth of 13.4 percent. In comparison to the previous year more than 6,550 jobs and 178 branch stores were created Europe-wide. As of March 31, 2013 the "dm family" counts a total of 46,609 employees.

Best place in Nielsen "Store-Equity-Index"

The brand dm drug store chain also recorded a significant development in one of the most important consumer studies related to the business landscape in Austria and Europe. According to company reports, in the "Store-Equity-Index" prepared every year by market researcher Nielsen, dm shows by far the highest increase amongst all market participants in the Austrian food and drug store specialized trade. The company reported further, that through this according to consumer perspective dm was able to significantly further expand its position as the strongest store brand, and with an index increase from 3.6 to 3.9 last year to clearly take the lead as best in the sector of the drug store specialized trade.