Douglas downgrades 2024/5 forecast as buyer sentiment weakens

THE WHAT? Douglas has introduced that it’s decreasing its gross sales forecast for the 2024/25 monetary yr. The German pharmacy chain now expects gross sales of €4.5 billion (down from the earlier €4.7-4.8 billion) and web earnings of €175 – a far cry from the earlier steering of €225-265 million.

THE DETAILS Sander van der Laan, CEO of the DOUGLAS Group, stated the corporate has already embarked upon a number of countermeasures to drive gross sales and stabilize gross margin.

“These are difficult occasions and we already took putting selections,” stated van der Laan. “We transfer each lever in our enterprise to safeguard our gross sales and income – in addition to our workers and shareholders.

“We do that very constantly and with highest precedence: with focused investments in progress and with in depth price financial savings. We’re assured that we’ll overcome these challenges and that the premium magnificence market will get better when the worldwide financial state of affairs improves.”

THE WHY? Douglas stated that adjustment was the results of the rising affect of worldwide macro-economic and political uncertainties on the premium magnificence sector, characterised by a slowdown in European gross sales – particularly in Germany and France the place the retailer is experiencing decrease site visitors in retailer and on-line.