Gerry Weber Plans Profitability Gain on Supply Costs

Gerry Weber International AG, Germany’s second-largest maker of women’s clothing, aims to improve profitability in the next two years by reducing purchasing costs and expanding its wholesale business.

Earnings before interest and taxes as a proportion of sales will rise to 14 percent in the year through October 2011 and 15 percent in fiscal 2012, Chief Executive Officer Gerhard Weber said yesterday in a phone interview. The margin was 12 percent in 2009 and targeted at 13 percent in the year ended Oct. 31. The company will release full-year figures in January.