Kirkel - July 13, 2007. Following the market entry into the Ukraine planned for this autumn the Praktiker Group has identified a new target country for the year 2008: Albania. In the medium term, at least three home improvement and DIY stores are to be built, the first one in the capital Tirana in summer 2008.

This emerging country with its 3.6 million inhabitants located on the southern Adriatic Sea would be the ninth foreign country in the international portfolio of the Praktiker Group. It is an interesting expansion target: the population and gross domestic product are growing steadily and the home ownership quota of well over 90 percent is similar to that of Bulgaria and Romania with a massive need for renovation and rehabilitation. At the same time, there is no established retailer yet who offers home improvement and DIY products. “Praktiker can fully draw on its competence advantage as a pioneer in the Eastern European DIY business in this small but growing market, cultivate an untilled field and at the same time contribute to the construction and development sector in Albania”, stressed the CEO of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG, Wolfgang Werner.

The Albanian Praktiker subsidiary with its head office in Tirana was established in May 2007. Market entry into Albania forms part of the accelerated international expansion project of the Praktiker Group. This year alone, at least 15 new outlets are scheduled to open in seven countries. Up to 20 additional locations are planned for 2008. This way, Praktiker consolidates its position among the four top selling DIY operators in Europe.