dm sees sales surpass 10 billion euros in 2017 | Progresiv
German drugstore chain drogerie markt (dm) has posted sales of 10.3 billion euros in its fiscal year 2017, which represents an increase of 5.7% compared to the previous year. 
The group's German business contributed 7.9 billion euros (+4.8%) to the total figure, meanwhile its international operations saw sales increase 8.6% to 2.4 billion euros.
The retailer sells personal care and health products in Germany and eleven other European countries, and also offers a selection of the dm range online in China.
dm says that it has made significant progress in its digital services in the last year, and has invested more than 20 million euros in its IT subsidiary.
The retailer says that card payments are increasing in its stores, and now account for around 45% of sales. It has also been testing a self-scanning service in some of its markets, which it now plans to expand further.
Meanwhile, online sales at dm have grown by more than 80%. Around 1,500 products can now be ordered exclusively online, and are available for home delivery or collection from a selected dm market.
In the past financial year, dm opened and reopened a total of 90 stores. In its home market of Germany, the retailer opened 67 new markets, to reach a total of 1,892.
Next year, the company plans to invest more than 350 million euros in further refurbishments, store openings, a new headquarters in Karlsruhe and a new distribution centre in Wustermark.
dm says that it is likely to double its investments in the coming financial year. (www.esmmagazine.com)
