Retailer beats competition from El Corte Inglés and Galeries Lafayette
Marks & Spencer tops the European department store league, according to a report by Mintel. The retailer took more money during 2005/2006 than its continental competitors with sales of£4.94 billion.

The number puts M&S marginally ahead of second place Spanish department store operator El Corte Ingles, which managed£4.68 billion. Galeries Lafayette was third. The German Karstadt and Kaufhof chains were fourth and fifth. In the UK, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams all made the top 10.

Mintel analyst Ben Perkins said: 'The impressive value of UK mixed goods retail sales when compared with France and Germany is a reflection of the importance of department store chains in the UK and conversely the strength of hypermarkets and discounters in France and Germany respectively.'

The Top 10 department stores in 2005/2006, according to Mintel, were:

1. Marks & Spencer (UK)

2. El Corte Ingles Department Stores (Spain)

3. Galeries Lafayette Group (France)

4. Karstadt Department Stores (Germany)

5. Kaufhof (Germany)

6. John Lewis (UK)

7. Debenhams (UK)

8. Manor department stores (Switzerland)

9. House of Fraser (UK)

10. Stockmann Department Stores (Finland)

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