Fielmann: profits up in third quarter

Compared to the third quarter in the previous year, Fielmann generated double digit increases in unit sales, sales and profit. Sales of glasses rose by 13 per cent to 1.4 million pairs. Pre-tax profit rose by 52 per cent to € 25.4 million, while profit after tax rose by 56 per cent to € 16.6 million.

Expectations for the first nine months of financial year 2005 have been fulfilled at Fielmann. Unit sales in the first nine months of the current financial year were up 17 per cent on the previous year, resulting 10 per cent above the figure for 2002, which was the last year before structural reform was introduced. By contrast, sales for the rest of the optical industry remained 18 per cent below the level of 2002.

In the first three quarters, Fielmann recorded consolidated sales of € 544.9 million and a pretax profit of € 60.3 million. DVFA/SG earnings per share amounted to € 1.73. The company sold 4.2 million pairs of glasses. From January to September 2005 the number of new pairs of glasses sold increased by 23 per cent. This above-average increase in unit sales is also due to the glasses for free insurance by Fielmann and HanseMerkur. Since its launch in October 2004, more than 1,100,000 customers have opted for this product.

Fielmann is employing 10,426 staff at the reporting date, of which 1,502 are trainees. For the year as a whole the company is confirming its previous forecasts and expecting a clear upturn in profit. By the end of the year, Fielmann will have opened a total of 18 new branches and created more than 600 new jobs.