Online retailer Zooplus will continue to focus primarily on sales growth to maintain its European market leadership in pet supplies e-commerce. As already reported, the company increased its sales in the first three months of this year by 26 per cent to 323 mio euros. This is more than was expected for the year as a whole, says board chairman Dr Cornelius Patt.
Earnings before tax (EBT) were -5.5 mio euros in the first quarter, however, and thus well short of the figure of 3.4 mio euros in the same period last year. Zooplus cited stronger investment in the second half of 2017, along with temporary effects due to not yet fully concluded annual negotiations with the industry, as the reasons for this setback. The negotiations would have a substantial impact on the gross profit, according to the retailer.
Zooplus intends to invest further in logistics during the year and plans to triple the size of its Fulfilment Centre in Great Britain. This would improve the quality of supply in the British market and secure greater autonomy of the market in the future. The network of Fulfilment Centres is expected to be augmented in 2018 with the addition of sites in Italy and Spain.
