75-year-old Kesko is the fourth most important Finnish company

KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 19.01.2015 AT 15.00 1(1)
  
Kesko celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Kesko, established in 1940, has played a significant role in the development of Finnish society as a whole. Today Kesko is the fourth most important Finnish company in terms of economic welfare.

According to the recent report published by the Prime Minister's Office, Kesko is the fourth most important Finnish company in terms of economic welfare. Kesko's direct impact on the gross domestic product of Finland is nearly one percent. When multiplier impacts of domestic product purchases, transportation and other service acquisitions are taken into account, Kesko's total significance rises to several percent.

President and CEO Mikko Helander opened the Day of Commerce anniversary seminar organised to celebrate the special year in Helsinki today. Helander said that Kesko's story of 75 years is linked to the whole country's history and its turning points in many ways.

Kesko was established after the Winter War in the autumn of 1940. A period of strong reconstruction of society and fast development in the trading sector began after the war. Kesko and K-retailers played a significant role in the reconstruction of our society creating the basis for the success story of the K-Group which has now lasted for several decades.

"We build our success story in cooperation with our partners. The strong Finnish retailing sector provides the basis for a successful food industry, which is a prerequisite for domestic agriculture," Helander said.

Kesko published today a capital expenditure of €100 million in Itäkeskus. Kesko will build a new and modern shopping centre in the area of the current K-citymarket in Itäkeskus, eastern Helsinki. The centre, to be built phase by phase, will have a special focus on food, enjoyable leisure time and encounters. The plan of the area also enables housing construction. The first phase of the shopping centre will be completed at the end of 2017.

Kesko's Day of Commerce seminar was organised for the 18th time. The event was attended by more than 700 key people representing trade and industry.

Further information available from Vice President Merja Haverinen, Group Communications, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 10 53 22764.

Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. We are a retail specialist whose chains have about 2,000 stores in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus. Our stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers.