Shareholder’s update for the first half 2020 Group sales performance
2020 started very promising, with sales in January increased by approximately + 13% y-o-y and in February by + 23% y-o-y.
March was different.
• In Greece, on March 13, 2020, the Government announced the temporary suspension of operation of the retail stores, shopping malls and other places of public gathering, with the aim to limit the spread of Covid-19.
• A similar decision was taken by the Government of Cyprus.
• Restrictions for the movement of citizens in Bulgaria and Romania were imposed, while stores operating in shopping malls were closed.
As a result of these necessary - as it turned to be - government decisions, despite the explosive increase in demand for products through the online store e-JUMBO, the Group’s sales in March recorded a dramatic decrease of approximately -51% y-o-y.
In April, most of the stores remained closed and the rest underperformed and the Easter season was permanently lost. Sales recorded a new painful drop (-86%), always compared to the same month last year.
In May, there was a gradual restart of the economy. With most stores operating in Greece and the three out of the five stores in Cyprus, in combination with the gradual lifting of the restrictions in Bulgaria and Romania, the Group's sales for this month were driven by double-digit growth (+ 13,6%).
June remained in positive territory without, however, sustaining the momentum of the restart.
Taking into account the +5,8% y-o-y increase in June, Group’s sales during the first half of 2020 reached EUR 278,8 million, decreased by approximately -17% y-o-y.
Starting the second half of the year, the management hopes for the best but at the same time prepares for a second Covid 19 wave.
Whatever scenario prevails, the management will maintain its plan that for the financial year January - December 2020, the total amount to be distributed to shareholders will be equal to that of the twelve-month fiscal year ended on June 30, 2019, i.e. EUR 0,47 per share.
The recent Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders has already approved the distribution of the 50% of the abovementioned amount, i.e. gross amount of EUR 0,235 per share, which is part of extraordinary reserves from taxed and non-distributed profits of the fiscal year from 1.7.2010 to 30.6.2011. The payment date of the cash distribution has been set for July 6, 2020.
March was different.
• In Greece, on March 13, 2020, the Government announced the temporary suspension of operation of the retail stores, shopping malls and other places of public gathering, with the aim to limit the spread of Covid-19.
• A similar decision was taken by the Government of Cyprus.
• Restrictions for the movement of citizens in Bulgaria and Romania were imposed, while stores operating in shopping malls were closed.
As a result of these necessary - as it turned to be - government decisions, despite the explosive increase in demand for products through the online store e-JUMBO, the Group’s sales in March recorded a dramatic decrease of approximately -51% y-o-y.
In April, most of the stores remained closed and the rest underperformed and the Easter season was permanently lost. Sales recorded a new painful drop (-86%), always compared to the same month last year.
In May, there was a gradual restart of the economy. With most stores operating in Greece and the three out of the five stores in Cyprus, in combination with the gradual lifting of the restrictions in Bulgaria and Romania, the Group's sales for this month were driven by double-digit growth (+ 13,6%).
June remained in positive territory without, however, sustaining the momentum of the restart.
Taking into account the +5,8% y-o-y increase in June, Group’s sales during the first half of 2020 reached EUR 278,8 million, decreased by approximately -17% y-o-y.
Starting the second half of the year, the management hopes for the best but at the same time prepares for a second Covid 19 wave.
Whatever scenario prevails, the management will maintain its plan that for the financial year January - December 2020, the total amount to be distributed to shareholders will be equal to that of the twelve-month fiscal year ended on June 30, 2019, i.e. EUR 0,47 per share.
The recent Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders has already approved the distribution of the 50% of the abovementioned amount, i.e. gross amount of EUR 0,235 per share, which is part of extraordinary reserves from taxed and non-distributed profits of the fiscal year from 1.7.2010 to 30.6.2011. The payment date of the cash distribution has been set for July 6, 2020.