The sales of Kesko Group’s continuing operations in September 2019 totalled €938.3 million, representing an increase of 7.0% in comparable terms. The reported sales from continuing operations increased by 10.1%.
“Sales in September grew in all divisions. The sales performance in the grocery trade and the building and technical trade was impacted by the fact that the month had one more wholesale selling day than the year before. In the car trade, performance was impacted by the implementation of WLTP emissions testing in 2018, which had a weakening impact on the figures for the comparison period,” says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.
Sales in the grocery trade totalled €461.7 million in September, an increase of 6.3%. Sales grew in all chains.
Sales in the building and technical trade totalled €404.8 million in September, an increase of 5.4% in comparable terms in local currencies. Comparable sales in the building and technical trade excluding the speciality goods trade grew by 4.3%. Sales in Finland grew by 4.2% and sales elsewhere by 4.3%. Sales in the speciality goods' leisure trade increased by 12.4%, while sales in the machinery trade grew by 38.4% in comparable terms. Reported sales in the building and technical trade increased by 9.6%.
Sales in the car trade totalled €72.7 million in September, representing an increase of 26.0% in comparable terms. Reported sales increased by 48.4%. The implementation of WLTP emissions testing on 1 September 2018 had a weakening impact on the figures for the comparison period.
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in September 2019:
September 2019
Comparable
€ million
Change, %
change, %
Grocery trade, total
461.7
+6.3
+6.3
Building and technical trade, Finland
188.2
+4.7
+5.1
Building and technical trade, other countries
216.6
+14.2
+5.7
Building and technical trade, total
404.8
+9.6
+5.4
Car trade, total
72.7
+48.4
+26.0
Common functions and eliminations
-0.8
Grand total
938.3
+10.1
+7.0
Finland, total
721.7
+8.9
+7.4
Other countries, total
216.6
+14.2
+5.7
Grand total
938.3
+10.1
+7.0
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in July-September 2019:
1.7.-30.9.2019
Comparable
€ million
Change, %
change, %
Grocery trade, total
1,416.5
+3.9
+3.9
Building and technical trade, Finland
539.9
+1.8
+2.4
Building and technical trade, other countries
669.4
+14.0
+5.2
Building and technical trade, total
1,209.3
+8.2
+3.9
Car trade, total
225.4
+10.4
-6.2
Common functions and eliminations
-1.7
Grand total
2,849.5
+6.1
+3.1
Finland, total
2,180.1
+3.9
+2.5
Other countries, total
669.4
+14.0
+5.2
Grand total
2,849.5
+6.1
+3.1
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January-September 2019:
1.1.-30.9.2019
Comparable
€ million
Change, %
change, %
Grocery trade, total
4,113.7
+3.2
+4.1
Building and technical trade, Finland
1,560.1
+1.5
+2.0
Building and technical trade, other countries
1,803.7
+11.7
+4.4
Building and technical trade, total
3,363.8
+6.7
+3.3
Car trade, total
649.1
-9.6
-15.2
Common functions and eliminations
-3.9
Grand total
8,122.8
+3.4
+1.9
Finland, total
6,319.1
+1.2
+1.3
Other countries, total
1,803.7
+11.7
+4.4
Grand total
8,122.8
+3.4
+1.9
Change, % indicates the change when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The comparable change % has been calculated for the grocery trade excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestments completed in 2018, and 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, Sørbø Trelast AS and Fresks Group in the building and technical trade, and the Volkswagen, Audi and SEAT businesses of Huittisten Laatuauto, LänsiAuto and Laakkonen in the car trade.
In September 2019, the number of Kesko's wholesale selling days in Finland was 21, which is one day more than the year before. July-September also had one more selling day than the year before. The number of selling days in January-September equalled that of 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.