Kesko's sales increased by 2.0% in March, sales in the grocery trade increased by 6.9%


KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.04.2015 AT 09.00 1(2)

Kesko's sales increased by 2.0% in March, sales in the grocery trade increased by 6.9%

Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, in March 2015 totalled €810.0 million, up 2.0%. Kesko Group's sales excluding Anttila increased by 5.0% in local currencies.

In Kesko's grocery trade, sales in March were €419.8 million, an increase of 6.9% from the previous year. The number of delivery days in March was one more than in the previous year.

In the home improvement and speciality goods trade, sales in March were €292.6 million, a decrease of 5.0%. In terms of local currencies, comparable sales excluding Anttila increased by 2.4%. In Finland, comparable sales decreased by 2.5%. In other countries, comparable sales grew by 2.0% and by 9.5% in local currencies. In Finland, sales in the building and home improvement trade decreased by 4.6% and total sales in the speciality goods trade excluding Anttila increased by 3.1%.

In the car and machinery trade, sales in March were €98.1 million, an increase of 2.0%. VV-Auto's sales in March were €73.2 million, up 5.2%. Konekesko's sales in March were €25.0 million, a decrease of 6.0%.

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in March 2015:

  March 2015 1.1.  - 31.3.2015
  € million Change, % € million Change, %
Grocery trade, total 419.8 6.9 1,115.9 0.5
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, Finland 173.7 -9.0 440.0 -6.4
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, other countries 119.0 1.6 294.9 -3.4
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, total 292.6 -5.0 734.9 -5.2
Car and machinery trade, total 98.1 2.0 264.8 -4.8
Common operations and eliminations -0.6   -3.4  
Grand total 810.0 2.0 2,112.1 -2.1
         
Finland, total 673.9 2.7 1,779.3 -1.4
Other countries, total 136.1 -1.3 332.9 -5.6
Grand total 810.0 2.0 2,112.1 -2.1

Change, % indicates the change compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

In March 2015, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale in Finland was 22, which was one more than in the previous year. The total number of selling days in January- March was the same as in the previous year. The number of retail selling days in March was 31, which was the same as in the previous year. The total number of retail selling days in January- March was the same as in the previous year.

Kesko releases advance information on the K-Group's retail sales quarterly, in connection with interim reports.

Further information is available from Vice President, Group Controller Eva Kaukinen, tel. +358 105 322 338.

Kesko Corporation

Merja Haverinen
Vice President, Group Communications

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