Decisions have been reached in the codetermination negotiations concerning Kesko’s car trade division
The codetermination negotiations strived for a solution with minimal impact on personnel numbers. It was estimated that work on offer would be reduced by a maximum of 280 person-work-years. Reducing the number of staff in car sales was not under negotiation.
As a result of the negotiations, at this point 130 positions will be terminated, with 85 people made redundant. The number of redundancies is lower than anticipated thanks to people changing positions, fixed-term agreements ending, and retirement.
“The car trade business in undergoing a major global transformation. In order to be successful going forward, we must be more efficient, accelerate digitalisation, and offer a better customer experience. Decisions involving redundancies are always difficult. Nonetheless, the decisions made now will enable the future success of Kesko’s car trade division,” says Matti Virtanen, President of the car trade division.
The number of personnel in Kesko’s car trade is expected to decrease further by a maximum of 150 person-work years over the next 18 months following the automation and digitalisation of operations and process development. The objective is for as many people as possible to find new employment in Kesko’s car sales or other businesses.
Further information:
Matti Virtanen, President, car trade
Interview requests: K Group media desk, (Mon-Fri 9-16), tel. +358 105 350 200, viestinta@kesko.fi
K Auto Oy imports and markets Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, CUPRA, Porsche and Bentley passenger cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Finland, and SEAT cars in Estonia and Latvia. K Auto Oy also imports MAN trucks, MAN TGE vans and MAN and Neoplan buses into Finland. In addition, K-Auto develops car-related multichannel services. www.k-auto.fi
Kesko and K-retailers together form K Group, whose retail sales total €14 billion. K Group is the third biggest retail operator in Northern Europe and it employs some 39,000 people. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, building and technical trade, and car trade. Its divisions and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko's net sales total €11 billion and it employs approximately 18,000 people. Kesko has around 1,800 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Kesko’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company's domicile and main premises are located in Helsinki. Kesko ranks as the world's most sustainable grocery trade sector company (Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World). www.kesko.fi
Kesko Corporation
DISTRIBUTION
Main news media
