KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 11.09.2007 AT 11.00 1(2)
The Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, in August 2007 totalled €851.8 million, an increase of 11.5% over the corresponding period of the previous year. In January-August, the sales, excluding VAT, were €6,368.8 million, up 10.2% on the previous year. In January-August, the sales of foreign operations were €1,385.1 million, accounting for 22% of the Group's sales.
Kesko Food's sales increased by 10.8% in August and were €346.0 million. Citymarket Oy's sales of home and speciality goods developed particularly well thanks to the increased sales of home electronics due to Finland's move to the digital television era.
Rautakesko's sales increased by 12.8% in August and were €237.4 million. Sales in Finland were up by 1.6% and in other countries by 20.0%. Sales growth in the Baltic countries was 21.6% and in Russia 47.4%.
VV-Auto's sales in August were €69.0 million, an increase of 16.1% on last year. In Finland, the number of first registrations of passenger cars dropped by 0.4% in August. The market share of passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 15.7% (14.0%).
Anttila's sales in August were €48.4 million, an increase of 8.8%. The sales of Kodin Ykkönen department stores grew by 12.6% and the sales of Anttila department stores by 9.0%. Sales of home electronics increased most.
Kesko Agro's sales in August were €66.3 million, up 5.3%. Sales in Finland increased by 0.8%. Sales increase in the Baltic countries was 13.4% which can be attributed to good sales of the animal husbandry machinery.
The whole stock exchange release is published at www.kesko.fi. You can download the release in pdf format from the link below.
Further information is available from Jukka Erlund, Vice President, Corporate Controller, tel. +358 1053 22338.
