The Jumbo Group recorded an increase of 7,7% y-o-y during the first half of the current financial year

The Jumbo Group, loyal to its commitment for timely, reliable and continuous updating of its shareholders-partners, informs the investors about the progress of its sales, immediately after the close of the first half of the current fiscal year.

During the first half-year (July 2014- December 2014), the Group sales were increased by +7,70%y-o-y at EUR 341,13 million from EUR 316,74 million at the respective period of the last financial year.

The combination of the bad weather conditions in Greece together with the negative sentiment in the retail sector due to the recent political developments, negatively affected the course of sales and limited the impressive improvement that the Group recorded in the first quarter of the current financial year. As a result, the sales of the same stores in Greece were not increased during the first half-year and remained at the same level as at the respective period of the last fiscal year. On the contrary, the stores in Cyprus and Bulgaria -in the first half of the current financial year- presented a double-digit growth in sales. The contribution of the stores in Romania was of great importance, too, as the old stores recorded a double-digit growth in sales and the new impressive sales equally.

The arrhythmia in the Greek market is expected to be continued and for that reason the management reiterates the budget estimation for an annual increase of turnover between 4% and 6% at Group level.

During the first six months of the current financial year, Jumbo Group added totally four new stores. Specifically, opened:

• the new store in Iasmos, Greece of a total surface of 9,000sqm approximately,
• the new store in Bucharest, Romania (12.000 sqm),
• the new store in Oradea, Romania (12.000 sqm) and
• the new store in Lemessos, Cyprus (12.000 τ.μ.).

With the opening of the abovementioned stores, Jumbo Group operates a network of 70 stores in 4 countries, 53 out of which are located in Greece, 5 in Cyprus, 8 in Bulgaria and 4 in Romania as well as the on line store e-Jumbo.

At the end of the current financial year, it is expected the opening of one more store in Peloponnese of Greece (9,000 sqm) and one mope hyper-store in the city of Arad in Romania (12,000 sqm).