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Fourlis Group Delivers Robust Growth In 2025 Amid Expanding Retail Footprint

Fourlis Group has reported a notable surge in sales and profitability for the first nine months of 2025, driven by the continued expansion of its IKEA, Intersport, and Foot Locker networks across Greece, Cyprus, and Romania. The consolidated results underscore the company’s disciplined strategy and robust operating performance.

Impressive Financial Results

The latest financials display a marked increase in revenue to €430.7 million from €390 million the previous year. Gross profit rose to €200.7 million compared to €180.2 million in 2024, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased to €53.7 million, resulting in a margin of 12.5 percent.

Furthermore, Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) climbed to €30.6 million from €21.9 million, and net profit nearly doubled to €13 million, up from €7.5 million, driven by enhanced operating productivity and stronger contributions from associates.

Dominance of The IKEA Division

The IKEA division remains the largest revenue contributor with sales reaching €170.4 million, marking a 5.1 percent year-on-year increase. Gross profit for the division advanced to €73.4 million, while segment EBIT expanded to €12 million from €8.2 million, buoyed by new store openings and sustained customer demand.

Sports Retail and Health Segments Surge

The sports retail segment, which includes Intersport and Foot Locker, delivered significant growth. Sales increased to €157.7 million from €130.7 million, with EBITDA rising to €14.3 million and EBIT improvement from €2.3 million to €4.3 million. Similarly, the Holland & Barrett health and wellness segment experienced growth with revenue climbing to €24 million from €19.3 million, and an increase in gross profit to €17.2 million, supported by an EBITDA of €1.5 million.

Strategic Investment And Regional Expansion

Fourlis Group maintained a high level of investment activity during the period. Total capital expenditures reached €106.6 million, which included €63.8 million allocated for property via Trade Estates, €27.6 million for digital transformation initiatives, and €10.1 million towards expanding store footprints across its key retail brands. Although the majority of operations are centered in Greece and Romania, Fourlis continues to solidify its strategic presence in Cyprus, operating the IKEA store in Nicosia, a Pick-Up & Order Point in Limassol, and complementing these with the Cyprus e-shop and various sports retail outlets.

For further details, please visit the official Fourlis website.

Resilience In The Face Of Cyber Challenges

While the Cyprus operations experienced a temporary disruption due to a ransomware cyberattack last year, affecting online services including the e-commerce platform, the company confirmed that no personal data was compromised and that online operations were gradually restored. Despite this challenge, Fourlis remains committed to its growth trajectory for 2025.

Looking Ahead

Analysts observe that Greek retailers are strategically expanding across the Cypriot market, reshaping the local landscape in home furnishings, sportswear, and consumer goods. With an EBITDA-adjusted figure of €57.5 million signaling improved operating performance, Fourlis Group anticipates stable growth for the remainder of 2025, underpinned by ongoing network expansion, resilient consumer demand, and a continued focus on investment in logistics and digital systems.

European Wage Trends: ECB Signals Slowing Growth Amid Persistent Labor Market Disparities

ECB Wage Tracker Reveals Diminishing Wage Momentum

The latest wage tracker published by the European Central Bank points to slower negotiated wage growth across the euro area over the next two years. According to the report, smoothed calculations that include one-off payments project wage growth slowing from 3.2% in 2025 to 2.3% in 2026. ECB estimates are based on wage agreements covering 51.3% of employees in 2025, with coverage expected to decline to 41.9% in 2026.

Methodological Insights And Economic Implications

The ECB noted that its headline wage tracker smooths bonuses, inflation compensation and other temporary payments over 12 months to provide a clearer view of monthly and quarterly wage developments. Unsmoothed calculations, meanwhile, show negotiated wage growth at 3.0% in 2025 and 2.6% in 2026. When one-off payments are excluded entirely, projections indicate wage growth slowing from 3.8% in 2025 to 2.6% in 2026. According to the report, the easing trend largely reflects the fading impact of large one-time payments agreed during 2024, with their influence expected to diminish significantly by the end of 2026.

Wage Growth Projections And Future Considerations

Quarterly projections published by the ECB show negotiated wage growth averaging 1.8% in the first quarter, rising to 2.1% in the second quarter and reaching 2.6% in the second half of the year. More moderate base wage increases compared with previous years are also reflected in the figures, particularly as the effect of non-recurring bonuses weakens. At the same time, the ECB cautioned that ongoing economic uncertainty could still lead to renewed use of one-off payments in future collective bargaining agreements.

Cyprus Wage Data: Bright Spots Amid Persistent Inequality

Separate data released by Cystat showed continued wage growth in Cyprus during 2025. Average monthly earnings reached €2,605, while the median monthly salary stood at €1,968. Differences between average and median earnings continued to highlight uneven income distribution and the influence of higher earners on overall wage data.

Closing the Gap: Gender And National Disparities

The Cystat report also showed continued wage disparities based on gender and nationality. Male employees recorded average earnings of €3,102 compared with €2,718 for female employees, although women experienced slightly faster annual wage growth. Differences were also evident between Cypriot and non-Cypriot workers. According to the data, 42.8% of Cypriot employees earned between €1,500 and €2,999 per month, while 47.7% of non-Cypriot workers earned less than €1,500. Non-Cypriot employees were also overrepresented in the highest income category above €6,000.

Outlook And Strategic Implications

The data point to moderating wage growth across the euro area while also highlighting persistent structural inequalities within labour markets. As collective bargaining negotiations continue evolving amid economic uncertainty, policymakers and employers are expected to remain focused on balancing wage growth, inflation pressures and labour market stability.

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