K-rauta has been awarded as the best building materials retail company in Latvia

The Latvia Building Material Traders' Association has chosen K-rauta Ulmana in Riga as the best building materials retail company in Latvia in 2006. K-rauta Liepaja was rated third in the contest.

Evaluation criteria were customer service, the quality and assortment of goods, store layout and compliance of trade laws. Evaluation was done by an expert committee that visited all contest stores.

“This award is especially pleasing for us because almost all our main competitors took part in the contest. This is not the first award of K-rauta in Latvia: K-rauta has received acknowledgements of Riga City Council, the Latvian Trade Association, and the Latvia Building Materials Traders' Association. We are always proud that an independent institution appreciates the work we have done and the accomplishments we have achieved,” says Guntis Sokolovskis, the Managing Director of AS Rautakesko.

Participants of the contest were the members of the Latvia Building Materials Traders' Association. The association has a total of 41 members. The contest was organised in two categories, one for retail and one for wholesale companies.

In Latvia, Rautakesko operates five K-rauta stores of its own and two K-rauta partner stores. Three stores are located in Riga and the other ones in Cesis, Jelgava, Kuldiga and Liepaja. Rautakesko has also a wholesale network covering the whole country.

Further information:
Guntis Sokolovskis, Managing Director, AS Rautakesko, tel. +37 1 781 0090

Kesko is the most versatile provider of trading sector services in the Baltic Sea area. In close cooperation with retailers and other partners it produces retail and wholesale services that are highly valued by customers. Kesko operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

Rautakesko Ltd (www.rautakesko.com) is engaged in the hardware and builders' supplies and interior decoration trade in Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Baltic countries and Northwest Russia. It manages and develops its retail store chains and B-to-B Service in its operating area. Rautakesko is responsible for the chains' concepts, marketing, sourcing and logistics services, store network and retailer resources. Rautakesko's net sales totalled €1,610.0 million in 2005.