Kesko's sales increased in April

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.05.2016 AT 09.00 1(2)

Kesko's sales increased in April

Kesko Group's sales in April 2016 totalled €810.7 million and were up 6.1%. In comparable terms, sales increased by 2.5% in local currencies, excluding the impact of Suomen Lähikauppa.

"In April, Kesko's sales increased in all divisions. As of 12 April 2016, the sales of the grocery trade include the sales of Suomen Lähikauppa, acquired in April. The sales of the the building and home improvement trade and the sales of the car trade grew strongly," says Kesko's President and CEO Mikko Helander.

The sales of Kesko's grocery trade in April were €418.9 million and increased by 7.3% from the previous year. Suomen Lähikauppa excluded, the sales of the grocery trade were €378.0 million, representing a comparable change of -2.8%. The sales performance was partly attributable to the declining price trend in the grocery trade, as well as the change in the operating model of store fixture sales which reduced the sales by -1.2 percentage points. There was one delivery day more than in the previous year.

The sales of the home improvement and speciality goods trade in April were €315.5 million, and comparable sales increased by 7.4% in local currencies. In Finland, sales grew by 5.7%. Outside Finland, comparable sales increased by 9.4% in local currencies. The sales of the building and home improvement trade increased by 10.9% in local currencies.

The sales of the car trade in April were €76.2 million, up 13.0% from the previous year.

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in April 2016:

	April 2016		Comparable
	€ million	Change, %	change, %
Grocery trade, total	418.9	+7.3	-2.8
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, Finland	179.2	+5.7	+5.7
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, other countries	136.3	+0.4	+9.4
Home improvement and speciality goods trade, total	315.5	+3.4	+7.4
Car trade, total	76.2	+13.0	+13.0
Common functions and eliminations	0.1
Grand total	810.7	+6.1	+2.5
Finland, total	664.6	+7.4	+0.8
Other countries, total	146.0	+0.4	+11.1
Grand total	810.7	+6.1	+2.5

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January-April 2016: