Marionnaud Parfumeries expands in Eastern Europe

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As part of its strategy of international expansion, Marionnaud Parfumeries announced it has signed a preliminary agreement on December 28 to a acquire a perfumery retail group based in six East European countries.

The acquisition includes three specialist beauty chains: Ina, Diva and Priveleges which between them have 107 outlets in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Mariounnaud said these entities should show a profit in 2001 with sales of Eur40m ($34m).

The transaction will only be completed once a holding company that will regroup the three chains has been set up. This will also involve a capital increase with Marionnaud holding a 51% stake. All the stores, averaging sales space of 100sq m (1,076sq ft), will soon be trading under the Marionnaud name. Marionnaud has also acquired the independent beauty chain Odylia, which has 12 Paris stores.

Marionnaud Parfumeries said it now has a chain of 841 perfumeries in Europe, ahead of the German group Douglas Holding which has 696 outlets and Sephora with 393 stores in Europe.