Kesko's sales increased in August

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 14.09.2015 AT 09.00 1(2)

Kesko's sales increased in August

Kesko Group's sales in August  2015 totalled €737.5 million. In comparable terms excluding Anttila, sales increased by 0.6% in local currencies.

"Kesko's sales continued to increase in August despite the challenging market situation. Sales development  was particularly strong in the home improvement and speciality goods trade outside Finland, where the growth was nearly 11%," says Kesko's President and CEO Mikko Helander.

In Kesko's grocery trade, sales in August were €396.3 million, a decrease of 0.6%. In local currencies, sales increased by 0.5%. The downward price trend continued in Finland.

In the home improvement and speciality goods trade, sales in August were €285.3 million, and comparable sales excluding Anttila increased by 1.8% in local currencies. In Finland, comparable sales declined by 7.2% due to decrease in sales from the previous year in the agricultural and machinery trade. In the building and home improvement trade, however, sales in Finland remained at the level of the previous year. Outside Finland, comparable sales grew by 10.8% in local currencies. In the building and home improvement trade, sales increased by 3.7% in local currencies. In the agricultural and machinery trade, sales decreased by 5.3%.

In the car trade, sales in August were €54.7 million, a decrease of 4.8% from the previous year.

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

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January-August 2015:

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

In August 2015, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale in Finland was 21, which was the same as in the previous year. The total number of selling days in January-August was the same as in the previous year. The number of retail selling days in August was 31, which was the same as in the previous year. The total number of retail selling days in January-August 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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