“Kesko’s sales grew in December by 3.3%, boosted by the car trade and building and technical trade. Growth was impacted by the fact that the month had one wholesale selling day more than the year before, and by the low comparison figures for the car trade. In the grocery trade, sales growth in the home and speciality goods trade in particular was decelerated by the exceptionally warm winter weather and by the changes concerning tax refunds, which impacted purchasing power,” says Kesko’s President and CEO Mikko Helander.
Sales in the grocery trade totalled €515.4 million in December, an increase of 0.3%. The Christmas season boosted food sales, while sales declined in the home and speciality goods trade.
Sales in the building and technical trade totalled €299.3 million in December, an increase of 3.4% in comparable terms in local currencies. Comparable sales in the building and technical trade excluding the speciality goods trade grew by 4.2%. Sales in Finland grew by 6.4% and sales elsewhere by 2.7%. Sales in the speciality goods' leisure trade decreased by 10.8%, while sales in the machinery trade grew by 11.3% in comparable terms. Reported sales in the building and technical trade increased by 5.6%.
Sales in the car trade totalled €61.8 million in December, representing an increase of 2.5% in comparable terms. Reported sales increased by 22.3%. In the comparison period, sales in the car trade were impacted by the implementation of WLTP emissions testing and consequent decline in deliveries.
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in December 2019:
| December 2019 | Comparable | ||
| € million | Change, % | change, % | |
| Grocery trade, total | 515.4 | +0.3 | +0.3 |
| Building and technical trade, Finland | 124.6 | +2.4 | +3.8 |
| Building and technical trade, other countries | 174.7 | +8.0 | +3.1 |
| Building and technical trade, total | 299.3 | +5.6 | +3.4 |
| Car trade, total | 61.8 | +22.3 | +2.5 |
| Common functions and eliminations | -0.8 | ||
| Grand total | 875.8 | +3.3 | +1.3 |
| Finland, total | 701.1 | +2.2 | +0.9 |
| Other countries, total | 174.7 | +8.0 | +3.1 |
| Grand total | 875.8 | +3.3 | +1.3 |
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in October-December 2019:
| 1.10.-31.12.2019 | Comparable | ||
| € million | Change, % | change, % | |
| Grocery trade, total | 1,471.2 | +1.9 | +1.9 |
| Building and technical trade, Finland | 486.9 | -0.3 | +0.7 |
| Building and technical trade, other countries | 590.7 | +3.4 | -1.4 |
| Building and technical trade, total | 1,077.6 | +1.7 | -0.4 |
| Car trade, total | 228.9 | +19.0 | +2.2 |
| Common functions and eliminations | -1.9 | ||
| Grand total | 2,775.7 | +3.0 | +0.9 |
| Finland, total | 2,185.0 | +2.8 | +1.5 |
| Other countries, total | 590.7 | +3.4 | -1.4 |
| Grand total | 2,775.7 | +3.0 | +0.9 |
Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January-December 2019:
| 1.1.-31.12.2019 | Comparable | ||
| € million | Change, % | change, % | |
| Grocery trade, total | 5,584.9 | +2.8 | +3.5 |
| Building and technical trade, Finland | 2,047.0 | +1.1 | +1.6 |
| Building and technical trade, other countries | 2,394.4 | +9.6 | +2.8 |
| Building and technical trade, total | 4,441.4 | +5.5 | +2.2 |
| Car trade, total | 878.0 | -3.6 | -11.6 |
| Common functions and eliminations | -5.9 | ||
| Grand total | 10,898.4 | +3.3 | +1.6 |
| Finland, total | 8,504.0 | +1.6 | +1.3 |
| Other countries, total | 2,394.4 | +9.6 | +2.8 |
| Grand total | 10,898.4 | +3.3 | +1.6 |
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 December 2019, the number of Kesko's wholesale selling days in Finland was 18, which is one day more than the year before. October-December 2019 had the same number of selling days as the corresponding period in 2018, as did January-December 2019.
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.
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