German web-only pet supplies retailer Zooplus AG, No. 48 in the Internet Retailer 2014 Europe 500, is expected to report a strong first quarter of 2015.

Full first-quarter results will be reported May 20, but in a recent initial earnings statement the company reported:

• Web sales for the quarter increased 35.5% to 164 million euros ($183.5 million) from 121 million euros ($135.4 million) in 2014.
• Total sales, which include web sales and other income, grew 34.1% to 169 million euros ($189.5 million) from 126 million euros ($140.9 million) in 2014.
• Sales in the German-speaking region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) grew 27% in Q1, compared to 17% growth in the region in all of 2014.

Zooplus, which sells online in 13 European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, says Q1 sales will be a record for the company. “The total sales of EUR 169 million in the first quarter of 2015 are well above the target we set for ourselves and also mark a new record high. The sales growth of 36% is again greater than the growth rate of 33% for the full year 2014,” said Cornelius Patt, CEO of Zooplus. “Particularly remarkable is the acceleration of growth in the German-speaking region. A major driver of the positive sales performance was once again the high rate of customer retention, which was again over 90% in the first quarter of 2015. Furthermore, new customer business is growing across all regions.”

Because of higher-than-expected first-quarter growth, Zooplus executives have raised the company’s total sales target for the year to 725 million euros ($811 million). 2015 web sales are expected to reach 700 million euros ($783 million) for the first time.