Cora - best performing hypermarket chain in 2009

Cora hypermarket chain, held by Louis Delhaize group, was the best performing hypermarket operator last year, with 8,230 euros in average annual sales per square metre, 1,700 euros higher than those of rival Carrefour, the second most productive player, as calculated by ZF.
Considering the market is still expanding, sales per square metre are one of the best indicators of a retailer's performance, alongside profitability rate and organic growth (in stores older than one year). Cora, the only hypermarket chain that did not expand in 2009, recorded an 18% turnover decline in 2009, to 330 million euros, compared with the previous year, but reprised its 2008 performance, remaining the most productive chain in terms of sales per square metre.
Moreover, with just three operational stores, the company held by the Louis Delhaize group reported a 20 million-euro (84.6 million-RON) net profit last year, similar to that achieved by Carrefour in the same period with 22 hypermarkets.