French glass to building materials conglomerate Saint-Gobain expects strong growth of its construction materials distribution business in Spain through its outlets Point.P and La Plataforma de la Cons…
French glass to building materials conglomerate Saint-Gobain expects strong growth of its construction materials distribution business in Spain through its outlets Point.P and La Plataforma de la Construcci-n. Point.P posted sales of EUR 42.3 million in Spain in 2002 and expects to reach EUR 100 million in three years. La Plataforma de la Construcci-n, which is aimed at self-employed building professionals and small businesses in urban areas, opened its first centres in Getafe (Madrid province) and L“Hospitalet and Sant Quirze (Barcelona province) in 2002 and expects to reach EUR 100 million in sales in its first three years. Point.P began in Spain in 2002 with the acquisition of Gerona-based Roberto Mercader and Comercial Urgell of Lerida, both in Catalunya. The company now has 17 centres in Catalunya, more than 7,500 clients and a fleet of 60 delivery trucks. From Catalunya, the company aims to expand in Spain through growth and acquisitions. The next growth areas will be Madrid and the area around Valencia. According to Patrick Bertrand, president of La Plataforma, the plan is to use the Catalan experience as the basis for further expansion. La Plataforma de la Construcci-n is focussed on the urban environment and is aimed at building renovation professionals. For that reason, the company is focussing on Barcelona and Madrid and foresees a EUR 7 million investment in three centres, two of which are in Madrid and the third in north Barcelona. Saint-Gobain has been in Spain since 1904 and currently has 45 companies employing more than 8,000. In 2002 it posted sales of EUR 1,445 million in Spain.