Kesko's sales in March 2010
KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.04.2010 AT 09.00 1(2)
The Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, totalled 764.8 million in March 2010, which matched the level of the previous year.
In the food trade, sales in March were 362.1 million, an increase of 11.3%. The sales to the K-food store chains were up by 14.2%.
In the home and speciality goods trade, sales in March were 132.0 million, an increase of 3.7%. Sales of interior decoration and clothing items developed best.
In the building and home improvement trade, sales in March were 202.4 million, a decrease of 6.3%. Sales in Finland were down by 8.0%, due to a decline in the sales of agricultural supplies. In other countries, sales decreased by 4.5% in terms of euros, and by 11.0% in terms of local currencies. In the Baltic countries, sales were down by 26.5%. In Russia, sales increased by 7.2% in terms of euros and decreased by 4.3% in terms of the local currency.
In the car and machinery trade, VV-Auto's sales in March were 61.2 million, a decrease of 20.0%. Sales development was affected by the car tax reform, as a result of which the car tax levied on cars after 4 April 2009 is excluded from the net sales. Stevedores' strike in March also had a negative impact on sales. In Finland, total registrations of new passenger cars declined by 15.2% in March. Konekesko's sales in March were 24.2 million, down 30.5%, because of the downsizing of the Baltic agricultural trade.
| March | 2010 | 1.1. - | 31.3.2010 | |
| million | Change,% | million | Change,% | |
| Food trade, total | 362.1 | 11.3 | 918.9 | 2.7 |
| Home and speciality goods trade, Finland | 129.6 | 3.9 | 352.4 | 3.1 |
| Home and speciality goods trade, other countries | 2.4 | -7.6 | 6.6 | -19.0 |
| Home and speciality goods trade, total | 132.0 | 3.7 | 359.0 | 2.6 |
| Building and home improvement trade, Finland | 105.6 | -8.0 | 252.2 | -5.6 |
| Building and home improvement trade, other countries | 96.8 | -4.5 | 247.5 | -7.9 |
| Building and home improvement trade, total | 202.4 | -6.3 | 499.6 | -6.7 |
| Car and machinery trade, Finland | 75.9 | -19.5 | 210.0 | -20.3 |
| Car and machinery trade, other countries | 9.5 | -44.2 | 31.0 | -18.1 |
| Car and machinery trade, total | 85.4 | -23.3 | 241.1 | -20.0 |
| Common operations and eliminations | -17.0 | -40.4 | ||
| Finland, total | 655.5 | 2.0 | 1,691.6 | -1.9 |
| Other countries, total | 109.3 | -10.1 | 286.6 | -9.4 |
| Grand total | 764.8 | 0.1 | 1,978.2 | -3.0 |
Change,% indicates the change over the corresponding period of the previous year.
In March 2010, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was 23, which is one more than in March 2009. The total number of selling days in January-March was the same as in the previous year. The number of retail selling days in March was 31, which is five more than in the previous year. The total number of retail selling days in January- March was thirteen more than in the previous year.
Kesko publishes advance information about the K-Group's retail sales quarterly, in connection with the interim reports.
Further information is available from Vice President, Corporate Controller Jukka Erlund, tel. +358 1053 22338.
Kesko Corporation
Paavo Moilanen
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Responsibility
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NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main news media
www.kesko.fi
