The German-based ANWR Group, whose holdings include the Sport 2000 business in Germany, Switzerland and the Benelux countries, looks back on a challenging year in its annual report. Despite the difficult situation in the retail sector caused by the Covid-19 crisis, the operating result shows a slight increase to €17.8 billion for 2020, thanks mainly to the group’s expanded financial services.
While the footwear and leathergoods segments recorded particularly high sales declines of 20.1 percent and 36.0 percent, respectively, the sports segment grew by 1.1 percent. The total invoiced purchasing volume for the affiliated retailers amounted to €2.6 billion across all product categories, 11.5 percent down on the previous year.
The centralized settlement business for retail cooperatives that don’t belong to the ANWR Group developed positively in 2020. The purchasing volume handled in their behalf via ANWR’s own banks - DZB Bank and Aktivbank – went up by 5.1 percent to €13.8 billion. Retail cooperatives in the building materials, wood, furniture, automotive, plumbing, heating and bicycle sectors were less affected by the Covid-related restrictions. Both banks benefit from guarantees offered by the Federal Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR).
On the other hand, the ANWR Group reports 4.1 percent lower revenues of €630.8 million from commissions related the centralized settlements for its affiliated shoe and leathergoods retailers, although its schuhe.de e-commerce platform performed well. Extraordinary gains came from the sale of a property in Düsseldorf, and this step helped the group to generate a consolidated pre-tax profit of €69.9 million for the year, compared with just under €5 million in 2019. A dividend payout of 10 percent is being proposed for the holders of the cooperative shares.
ANWR expects to meet ongoing challenges for the affiliated brick-and-mortar retailers by arranging or providing financing, intensive consulting and training and management tools, including stock management solutions and e-commerce platforms.
