OREANDA-NEWS. On 21 April 2008 was announced, that JSC “The Seventh Continent” March 2008 trade sales increased 35% YoY and 1Q 2008 trade sales increased 32% YoY. The sales growth in the hypermarket format for March 2008 reached 66% YoY and 57% for 1Q 2008 reached respectively. The growth in regional sales reached 62% YoY in March 2008 and the growth in regional sales for 1Q 2008 reached 63%.

Based on management accounts the Company’s March 2008 gross retail sales[1] reached USD 158 mn. and increased 35% and 1Q 2008 gross retail sales reached 425 USD mn. and increased 32%.

As of the end of March 2008 the Company managed 133 stores, including 124 supermarkets and 9 hypermarkets.

As of the end of March 2008 the selling space of the Company’s stores under the brands “Seventh Continent” (supermarkets), “Nash Hypermarket” (“Our Hypermarket”) and “Prostore” amounted 166,8 th. sq. m. and increased 17% YoY.

During March 2008 the Company opened 1 store in the “Seventh Continent - Universam” format in Kaliningrad and its first owned shopping mall in Perm. “Nash hypermarket” (Our hypermarket) store is settled in this mall (address: Perm, Heroev Hasana street, building 105). Total selling space of the 2 opened stores is about 6,8 th. sq. m.

 From the start of the year 2008 the Company opened 6 new stores including 3 hypermarkets.  Selling space increased by 19,9 th. sq. m., including the 16,7 th. sq. m. in the hypermarket format.

[1] The sales figure includes gross retail sales including VAT and does not include other revenues.