OBI in the future

OBI will aggressively push its international expansion focussing efforts on Russia, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Balkans. On top of these ambitious expansion targets OBI is about to enter three additional countries, namely Ukraine, Romania and Slovakia. Medium term targeting up to 20 stores both in Ukraine and Romania, OBI plans to open another 10-15 stores in Slovakia shortly. First openings in these countries are scheduled for 2008/09.

“Market leadership is our goal – wherever OBI is present. Focussing on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Ukraine as major growth markets are key to our expansion strategy” says OBI CEO Sergio Giroldi. Based on this aggressive growth path OBI will boost the share of turnover generated abroad to more than 50 per cent in the coming years.

In many international markets OBI already is number 1 (e.g., Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bosnia, etc.). Growth will now be the driving force to achieve market leadership also in many new countries. 

Over the next 5-6 years, we are planning to open 35-40 new stores every year in Europe. The turnover from foreign stores is forecast to increase within short to well above 50 per cent.

We are looking forward to expanding our business together with partners who believe in: