Kesko’s sales grew in April

14.05.2019

The sales of Kesko Group’s continuing operations in April 2019 totalled €925.4 million, representing an increase of 8.2% in comparable terms. Reported sales from continuing operations grew by 8.9%.

“In the grocery trade, sales grew by 17.7% in comparable terms. Sales grew markedly in all chains, impacted by a successful Easter season and its timing in April. Sales continued to grow also in the building and technical trade both in Finland and elsewhere. In the car trade, sales continued to decline due to the implementation of the WLTP emissions testing and the resulting delays in car deliveries and due to weakened consumer demand caused by uncertainties regarding car taxation and motive power choices," says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.

Sales in the grocery trade totalled €481.2 million in April, an increase of 17.7% in comparable terms. Reported sales in April grew by 16.4%.

Sales in the building and technical trade totalled €372.7 million in April, an increase of 3.2% in comparable terms in local currencies. Comparable sales in the building and technical trade excluding the speciality goods trade grew by 5.1%. Sales in Finland grew by 3.9% and sales elsewhere by 6.2%. Sales in the speciality goods' leisure trade decreased by 5.8%, while sales in the machinery trade decreased by 23.5%. Reported sales in the building and technical trade increased by 5.2%.

Sales in the car trade totalled €71.7 million in April, representing a decrease of 15.7% in comparable terms. Reported sales decreased by 12.6%.

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in April 2019:

	April 2019		Comparable
	€ million	Change, %	change, %
Grocery trade, total	481.2	+16.4	+17.7
Building and technical trade, Finland	182.5	+2.1	+2.1
Building and technical trade, other countries	190.2	+8.4	+4.3
Building and technical trade, total	372.7	+5.2	+3.2
Car trade, total	71.7	-12.6	-15.7
Common functions and eliminations	-0.2
Grand total	925.4	+8.9	+8.2

Finland, total	735.2	+9.0	+9.3
Other countries, total	190.2	+8.4	+4.3
Grand total	925.4	+8.9	+8.2

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January-April 2019:

	1.1.-30.4.2019		Comparable
	€ million	Change, %	change, %
Grocery trade, total	1,757.0	+3.2	+4.6
Building and technical trade, Finland	657.1	+3.0	+3.1
Building and technical trade, other countries	679.4	+9.8	+5.3
Building and technical trade, total	1,336.4	+6.3	+4.2
Car trade, total	277.3	-20.0	-20.3
Common functions and eliminations	-1.4
Grand total	3,369.4	+1.9	+1.7

Finland, total	2,690.0	+0.1	+0.9
Other countries, total	679.4	+9.8	+5.3
Grand total	3,369.4	+1.9	+1.7

Change, % indicates the change when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The comparable change % has been calculated for the grocery trade by excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestments completed in 2018, and by including in the sales those stores formerly belonging to Suomen Lähikauppa which have been operating under the retailer business model in both years. The comparable change % for the building and technical trade has been calculated in local currencies and excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestments completed in 2018 and 2019.

The reported sales for Kesko Group’s continuing operations include the acquisitions completed in 2018 and 2019, which are Reinin Liha and Kalatukku E. Eriksson in the grocery trade, Skattum Handel AS, Gipling AS, 1A Group and Sørbø Trelast AS in the building and technical trade, and the Volkswagen, Audi and SEAT businesses of Huittisten Laatuauto and LänsiAuto in the car trade.

In April 2019, the number of Kesko's wholesale selling days in Finland was 20, which equals the number of wholesale selling days the year before. January-April 2019 had an equal number of selling days as the corresponding period in 2018.

Kesko publishes advance information on 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

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