PR Newswire/Les Echos/

PRESS RELEASE

2008 annual sales: EUR105.8 million 

Stable fourth quarter sales, at EUR25.9 million

Paris, 12th January 2009: 

Groupe VIAL (ISIN: FR0010340406), France's leading independent industrial
joinery discount group, announces its consolidated sales for its 4th quarter to
31st December 2008 and its full-year sales.

Consolidated sales

In EUR million,        2008    2007    Var.(%)
IFRS
1st Quarter           25.61   24.79    +3.3%
2nd Quarter           28.18   30.30    -7.0%
3rd Quarter           26.14   26.45    -1.2%
4th Quarter           25.86   25.76    +0.4%
Total 12 months      105.80  107.30    -1.5%

Despite a further downturn in the economic environment, notably in the
construction of new housing, and the disruption associated with the
implementation of ERP, Groupe Vial's consolidated sales for the fourth quarter
totalled EUR25.9 million, up 0.4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. This
relative resistance in the Group's activity was the result of:
- the growth recorded by the stores opened over the last two years;
- a product offer that is adapted to the new market context, with a substantial
range of Renovation products and a reduction in the offer for new property. This
strategic change in direction was initiated from May 2008, when the new
catalogue was published, in anticipation of the economic downturn.
 
Over 2008 as a whole, sales totalled EUR105.8 million, slipping back 1.5% on 
the year. Like-for-like (i.e. excluding new stores opened in 2008 and 2007),
activity was down 10.6%.

Opening of 11 stores in 2008

Over 2008, Groupe Vial opened 8 more stores in France and 3 in Spain. All of
these openings were already planned and negotiated prior to the start of the
ERP-related incident. Since then, the Group has significantly slowed its
development, with just one store opening during the fourth quarter for example,
in Valenciennes.

Over the last two years, the Group has expanded the capacity of its distribution
network by 75%, increasing the number of stores from 40 at the end of 2006 to 70
at the end of 2008, split as follows:
- France: 64 stores
- Spain: 6 stores
 
Prospects

The deployment of ERP is continuing in line with the predefined timetable
announced in October 2008: 
- on the Industry side, tests are continuing;
- on the Distribution side, all French sites are now connected to the system.
 
Groupe VIAL is continuing to focus its efforts on the deployment of ERP, in
order to reach its target of having an operational system by the end of the
first half of 2009. The Group is currently implementing the interconnection
phase between production and distribution.

For 2009, Groupe VIAL intends to further accentuate the development of its
Renovation ranges whilst preserving its attractive quality/price positioning
through the launch of numerous new products.
Lastly, as planned, new store openings will be limited in 2009, in order to
focus the efforts of all teams on the objective of breaking even in 2010.

Next press release: FY 2008 results: 29th April 2009 after market close

About Groupe VIAL (www.groupe-vial.com):
Listed on the Eurolist (Compartment B) of Euronext Paris 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 70-store VIAL Menuiseries distribution network (including 6
stores in Spain).
Groupe VIAL is France's largest independent discount joinery specialist.

Public site: www.vial-menuiseries.com

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

Contacts

Groupe VIAL
	 
Jean-François Buigues	
Chief Financial Officer	
investisseurs@groupe-vial.com	
vial@newcap.fr

NewCap.
Financial Communications - Investor Relations
Steve Grobet / Pierre Laurent
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 90 
vial@newcap.fr
                      
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