zooplus AG reported sales results for the third quarter and nine months of 2018. The company's sales in the third quarter increased by 19% year-on-year (currency-adjusted: 20%) to EUR 331 million against EUR 278 million a year ago, in a generally weaker retail environment. Double-digit growth rates were achieved again in all 30 regional markets.

The company reported sales in the first nine months of 2018 of EUR 974 m based on preliminary figures, which is equivalent to an increase of EUR 179 million for year-on-year growth of 23% from the previous year sales of EUR 795 million. Sales growth on a currency-adjusted basis also amounted to 23%. Sales growth was driven by a very high level of customer loyalty, which increased again in the third quarter, reaching a new record level with a sales retention rate of a currency-adjusted 95%. The number of registered new customers increased 8% in the first nine months of 2018. The lower increase in new customers resulted from the sharp increase recorded in the same period of the previous year and a special focus on business with long-term pet food customers.

The company confirmed the 2018 full-year forecast for planned sales growth in the range of 21% to 23%.