Decline of purchasing power continued to reduce Kesko's sales in Finland, sales of the home improvement and speciality goods trade increased abroad

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 12.06.2015 AT 09.00 1(2) Decline of purchasing power continued to reduce Kesko's sales in Finland, sales of the home improvement and speciality goods trade increased abroad Kesko Group's sales in May 2015 totalled EUR742.6 million. In comparable terms excluding Anttila, sales decreased by 2.9% in local currencies. The number of selling days was one less than in the previous year...

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 12.06.2015 AT 09.00 1(2)

 

Decline of purchasing power continued to reduce Kesko's sales in Finland, sales of the home improvement and speciality goods trade increased abroad

 

Kesko Group's sales in May 2015 totalled EUR742.6 million. In comparable terms excluding Anttila, sales decreased by 2.9% in local currencies. The number of selling days was one less than in the previous year.

 

"Although consumers' purchasing power would seem to be declining further in Finland, Kesko's performance especially in the extremely fierce competition in food prices has been excellent and lately it has even increased its market share for the first time since 2012," says Kesko's President and CEO Mikko Helander.

 

"We are very pleased with the recent trends in the market shares of both the grocery trade and the building and home improvement trade. We are clearly on the right path with respect to our new strategy."

 

In Kesko's grocery trade, sales in May were EUR378.2 million, a decrease of 3.9% from the previous year. The number of delivery days was one less than in the previous year.

 

In the home improvement and speciality goods trade, sales in May were EUR270.2 million, and in terms of local currencies, comparable sales excluding Anttila decreased by 1.0%. In Finland, comparable sales decreased by 4.5%. Outside Finland, comparable sales grew by 2.4% in terms of local currencies.

 

In the car and machinery trade, sales in May were EUR92.4 million, a decrease of 7.3%. VV-Auto's sales in May were EUR63.5 million, down 10.4%. Konekesko's sales in May were EUR28.9 million, a decrease of 0.2% from the previous year.

 

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

 

	May 2015		Change, %
	EUR million	Change, %	in local currencies excl. Anttila
Grocery trade, total	378.2	-3.9	-3.3
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, Finland	133.6	-18.3	-4.5
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, other countries	136.5	-4.2	+2.4
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, total	270.2	-11.8	-1.0
Car and machinery trade, total	92.4	-7.3	-7.3
Common operations and eliminations	1.8
Grand total	742.6	-6.8	-2.9
Finland, total	588.6	-7.4	-4.3
Other countries, total	154.0	-4.7	+2.6
Grand total	742.6	-6.8	-2.9

 

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

 

	1.1. - 31.5.2015		Change, %
	EUR million	Change, %	in local currencies excl. Anttila
Grocery trade, total	1,884.5	-1.9	-1.2
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, Finland	725.3	-10.7	-2.9
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, other countries	555.8	-3.5	+4.8
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, total	1,281.1	-7.7	0.6
Car and machinery trade, total	454.0	-4.8	-4.8
Common operations and eliminations	-0.5
Grand total	3,619.1	-4.2	-1.0
Finland, total	2,986.7	-4.1	-2.3
Other countries, total	632.4	-4.6	+4.7
Grand total	3,619.1	-4.2	-1.0

 

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

 

In May 2015, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale in Finland was 19, which was one less than in the previous year. The total number of selling days in January- May was one less than in the previous year. The number of retail selling days in May was 27, which was one less than in the previous year. The total number of retail selling days in January-May was one less than 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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