PR Newswire/Les Echos/

PRESS RELEASE

Q1 2009 sales: EUR24.4m (-4.8%)

Paris, 24th April 2009: 

Groupe VIAL (ISIN: FR0010340406), France's leading independent industrial
joinery discount group, announces its consolidated sales for its 1st quarter to
31st March 2009.

In EUR million            
IFRS                    2009           2008           Change (%)

1st quarter            24.37          25.61            -4.8%

Consolidated sales for the first quarter of 2009 recorded a fall of 4.8%
compared to the first quarter of the previous financial year. Like for like
(i.e. excluding new stores opened in 2008 and 2009), the fall was even greater,
with sales down 10%.
This significant fall in activity can be explained by the combination of a
number of factors:
   - unfavourable meteorological conditions, with exceptionally poor weather in
     January, notably in southern France,
   - a further fall in new housing, notably within Groupe Vial's core client
     target: builders of detached houses. Although the Group has considerably
     broadened its renovation product range in recent months, sales of standard
     products for new housing still represent a sizeable share of business,
   - disruptions associated with the deployment of ERP. The system was
     implemented in line with the planned schedule, but malfunctions are 
     continuing and could penalise the Group's activity, notably regarding its 
     production times.

In accordance with the corrective-measure programme adopted in mid-2008, the
opening of new stores was significantly slowed over the first quarter of 2009,
with just two new stores opening: 1 in Portugal (Faro) and 1 in Nantes (western
France). A store was also closed in Caluire (near Lyon). At 31st March 2009,
Groupe Vial's distribution network thus consisted of 71 stores divided as
follows:
- France: 64 stores
- Spain: 6 stores
- Portugal: 1 store

About Groupe VIAL (www.groupe-vial.com):
Listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment C) of NYSE Eruonext since December 2006,
Groupe VIAL manufactures and distributes aluminium, PVC and wood joinery
products (doors, windows, gates, stairs, etc.) offering unparalleled value for
money through tight control of supply lines; efficient, modern production
facilities and the 71-store VIAL Menuiseries distribution network (including 6
stores in Spain and 1 store in Portugal).

Public site: www.vial-menuiseries.com

Listed on Euronext Paris compartment C of NYSE Euronext 
Reuters: VIA.PA - Bloomberg: VIA FP

Contacts

Groupe VIAL                      NewCap. 
Jean-François Buigues            Financial Communications - Investor Relations
Chief Financial Officer          Steve Grobet / Pierre Laurent
investisseurs@groupe-vial.com    Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
                                 Fax: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 90 
                                 vial@newcap.fr
                      
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