STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 7, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Axfood:
Consolidated net sales* (excluding VAT) for the month of April totalled SEK 2,649 m (2,601), an increase of 1.8% compared with the same period a year ago. In comparison with last year it should be noticed that Easter came in April (while this year in March). The so called Easter effect is estimated to have had a positive sales impact of approximately SEK 100 m (approximately 4% of sales for the month).
Net sales for the period January-April 2002 totalled SEK 10,639 m (10,196), an increase of 4.3%. For stores owned by the Group, the increase was 12.8% in Sweden, of which same stores accounted for 4.8%. Of total sales, the Swedish operations accounted for SEK 8,880 m (8,423) and Spar Finland for SEK 1,759 m (1,773).
Hemkop's sales fell by 1.7%. The decrease for same stores was 2.6%. Willys grew its sales by 30.6%, of which same stores accounted for 11.7 percentage points. Willys Hemma grew its sales by 0.6%. The decrease for same stores was 6.4%. Spar Finland's sales fell by 0.8% and in local currency a decrease by 2.1%. For comparable stores owned by the Group the decrease was 1.9%.
Sales per business operation are broken down as follows:
Jan-April Jan-April
2002 2001 Change
SEK m. SEK m. %
Hemkop 2,107 2,143 -1.7%
Willys 2,589 1,983 30.6%
Willys Hemma 334 332 0.6%
Spar Finland 1,759 1,773 -0.8%
Dagab 5,570 4,361 27.7%
Axfood Narlivs 1,454 1,383 5.1%
Other(1) 666 733 -9.1%
Internal sales -3,840 -2,512 52.9%
Total 10,639 10,196 4.3%
*) The figures are preliminary, definite figures will currently be
presented at www.axfood.se/finans under Financial statistics
1) Includes Axfood Direkt, Axfood Franchise, support companies and
joint-Group functions.
Preliminary sales figures will be presented on the following dates:
May 6th June June 1st August (Interim report) August 5th September 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 Kenneth Wall, Press Manager, Axfood, tel. +46-8-553 998 20, +46-703-124 122
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 such a Hemkop, Willy's, Willy's Hemma, Spar, Vivo and Tempo. Consolidated annual sales are estimated at approximately SEK 30 billion, with approximately 8,500 full- year employees. The Axfood Group has approximately 700 stores in Sweden, of which 250 are wholly or partly owned. The remainder are run by independent merchants 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 merchants. The market share is nearly 20 per cent in Sweden and approximately 10 per cent in Finland. Axfood AB is listed on the A-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Axel Johnson AB is the principal owner, with approximately 45 per cent of the shares.
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