STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Carl-Erik Moller, Vice President and Head of Operations at Hemkopskedjan, has been named new President of Hemkop. Moller succeeds Lennart Andersson, who is leaving the company.
"Lennart Andersson has led a major process of change at Hemkop during the past two years. Activities must now be focused to an even higher degree on operations," commented Mats Jansson, President and CEO of Axfood AB. "Carl-Erik Moller has many years of experience in managing and running stores. Increasing the focus on operations is also the single most important factor behind accelerating the pace of Hemkop's recovery."
Carl-Erik Moller has a solid record of experience in the retail food business. He spent 25 years with ICA, including 17 as a grocer. Moller thereafter participated in the development of the Robin Hood concept for KF, where he worked for nearly five years as head of supermarket operations and later as regional director. Since the formation of the Axfood Group he served first as President of Axfood Franchise, where he was responsible for development and establishment of the nationwide franchise chain Spar. Since May 2002 he has been serving as Vice President and Head of Operations at Hemkop.
"During the last two years we have carried out a number of major changes at Hemkop," commented Moller. "We will now be able to settle down and put these kinds of changes behind us, and concentrate on growing sales and profitability through well-run stores. We are already beginning to see the first positive signs -- above all in the stores we are remodelling and refurbishing."
For further information, please contact:
Mats Jansson, Chairman of Hemkop, President and CEO of Axfood
tel. +46-8-553 998 10
Carl-Erik Moller, President of Hemkop
tel. +46-705-47 94 06
Bodil Eriksson, Executive Vice President,
Corporate Communications Axfood
tel. +46-8-553 998 17, or +46-706-29 66 34
Axfood AB is one of the largest listed food wholesale are retail companies in the Nordic market. The company conducts wholesale and retail trading under a number of brand names, including the wholly owned store chains Hemkop, Willys and Willys Hemma, and the Spar and Tempo franchise concepts. Consolidated annual sales are approximately SEK 33 billion, with over 8,000 full-time employees. The company has approximately 700 stores in Sweden, of which 250 are wholly or partly owned. The remainder are run by independent grocers tied to the company through agreements. Axfood has some 300 stores in Finland, of which 80 are wholly owned and the remainder operated by independent grocers. The market share is nearly 20% in Sweden and approximately 10% in Finland. Axfood AB is listed on the O-list, Attract 40, of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Axel Johnson AB is the principal owner, with approximately 45% of the shares.
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