Axfood's Sales, Jan-Aug 2002


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 5, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Axfood:

Consolidated net sales* (excluding VAT) for the month of August totalled SEK 2,892 m (2,857), an increase of 1.2% compared with the same period a year ago. For stores in Sweden owned by the Group, the increase was 9.3% for the month, of which same stores accounted for 3.7%. For stores in Finland owned by the Group the increase was 1.1% in local currency.

Net sales for the period January-August 2002 totalled SEK 21,893 m (21,321), an increase of 2.7%. For stores owned by the Group, the increase was 10.4% in Sweden, of which same stores accounted for 3.9%. Of total sales, the Swedish operations accounted for SEK 18,130 m (17,533) and Spar Finland for SEK 3,763 m (3,788).

Hemkop's sales fell by 2.0%. The decrease for same stores was 2.0%. Willys grew its sales by 22.9%, of which same stores accounted for 8.6 percentage points. Willys Hemma grew its sales by 6.6%. The decrease for same stores was 8.2%. Spar Finland's sales fell by 0.7% and in local currency a decrease by 1.4%. For comparable stores owned by the Group the decrease was 0.9%.

Sales per business operation are broken down as follows:


                   Jan-Aug   Jan-Aug  
                   2002      2001     Change
                   SEK m.    SEK m.   %
Hemkop             4,164     4,249    -2.0%
Willy's            5,434     4,420    22.9%
Willy's Hemma        698       655     6.6%
Spar Finland       3,763     3,788    -0.7%

Dagab (1)          11,550    9,536    21.1%

Axfood Narlivs      3,175    3,067     3.5%

Other (2)           1,353    1,539   -12.1%

Internal sales (3) -8,244   -5,933    39.0%
Total              21,893   21,321     2,7%

1) Of which direct distribution SEK 2,495 m (1,366).
2) Includes Axfood Direkt, Axfood Franchise, support companies and
   joint- Group functions.
3) Of which Dagab SEK 7,304 m (5,176).

--    The figures are preliminary, definite figures will currently be 
      presented at www.axfood.se under Financial Information.

Preliminary sales figures will be presented on the following dates:


September  23rd October (Quarterly report)
October    6th November
November   5th December


For further information, please contact:
Lars Nilsson, Executive Vice President and CFO,
tel. +46-8-553 998 11, +46-70-569 66 33
Bodil Eriksson, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications,
tel. +46-8-553 998 17, +46-70-629 66 34

This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net

The following files are available for download:


www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/09/05/20020905BIT00510/wkr0001.doc
www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/09/05/20020905BIT00510/wkr0002.pdf