Year-End Report Axfood AB (publ) for the period 1 January - 31 December 2008

Year-End Report Axfood AB (publ) for the period 1 January - 31 December 2008

- Axfood's consolidated sales for the year amounted to SEK 31,663 m (29,189), an
increase of 8.5%. 

- Like-for-like sales rose 4.7% during the year. Sales for Group-owned stores
rose 9.6%.

- Operating profit for the period January-December was SEK 1,077 m (1,121).
Operating profit a year earlier included a positive one-time effect of SEK 19 m.

- Profit after financial items for the year was SEK 1,011 m (1,086).

- Profit after tax for the year was SEK 737 m (781), and earnings per share were
SEK 14.05 (14.88).

- The Board of Directors proposes an ordinary dividend of SEK 8 per share (12).

- Axfood's goal for 2009 is to achieve an operating profit of at least SEK 1
billion.

For further information, please contact:
Anders Strålman, President and CEO, +46-70-293 16 93 
Karin Hygrell-Jonsson, CFO Axfood AB, +46 70-662 69 70
Anne Rhenman-Eklund, IR manager Axfood AB, +46 70-280 64 59

Axfood AB conducts retail trade through the wholly owned store chains Hemköp,
Willys, Willys hemma and PrisXtra, comprising slightly more than 220 stores, and
wholesale trade through Dagab and Axfood Närlivs. In addition, Axfood
collaborates with a number of proprietor-run stores that are tied to Axfood
through agreements. These include stores within the Hemköp chain as well as
stores run under the Handlar'n and Tempo profiles. In all, Axfood collaborates
with over 500 proprietor-run stores. Axfood is listed on the Nordic Large Cap
list of the OMX Nordic Exchange. Axel Johnson AB is the principal owner, with
approximately 46% of the shares.