Kesko’s sales in March

12.04.2019

The sales of Kesko Group’s continuing operations in March 2019 totalled €889.3 million, representing a decrease of 1.1% in comparable terms. Reported sales from continuing operations decreased by 1.2%.

“The fact that Easter this year falls on April had a significant impact on sales in March, especially in the grocery trade. In the building and technical trade, sales grew in comparable terms especially in the Baltics and Finland. In the car trade, sales decreased due to the implementation of the WLTP emissions testing and the resulting delays in car deliveries and due to weakened market demand among consumers," says Mikko Helander, Kesko’s President and CEO.

Sales in the grocery trade totalled €463.2 million in March, a decrease of 3.7% in comparable terms. Reported sales decreased by 4.7% in March. Sales were significantly affected by the fact that Easter this year falls on April, while in 2018 Easter was in March-April.

Sales in the building and technical trade totalled €353.8 million in March, an increase of 6.8% in comparable terms in local currencies. Comparable sales in the building and technical trade excluding the speciality goods trade grew by 9.6%. Sales in Finland grew by 7.0% and sales elsewhere by 12.0%. Sales in the speciality goods' leisure trade decreased by 6.8%, while sales in the machinery trade decreased by 34.2%. Reported sales in the building and technical trade increased by 8.5%.

Sales in the car trade totalled €72.5 million in March, representing a decrease of 15.6% in comparable terms. Reported sales decreased by 17.4%.

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in March 2019:

	March 2019		Comparable
	€ million	Change, %	change, %
Grocery trade, total	463.2	-4.7	-3.7
Building and technical trade, Finland	170.8	+4.6	+4.8
Building and technical trade, other countries	183.0	+12.3	+8.7
Building and technical trade, total	353.8	+8.5	+6.8
Car trade, total	72.5	-17.4	-15.6
Common functions and eliminations	-0.3
Grand total	889.3	-1.2	-1.1

Finland, total	706.3	-4.2	-3.3
Other countries, total	183.0	+12.3	+8.7
Grand total	889.3	-1.2	-1.1

Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in January - March 2019:

	1.1.-31.3.2019		Comparable
	€ million	Change, %	change, %
Grocery trade, total	1,275.9	-1.0	+0.4
Building and technical trade, Finland	474.6	+3.3	+3.5
Building and technical trade, other countries	489.2	+10.3	+6.2
Building and technical trade, total	963.7	+6.7	+4.8
Car trade, total	205.6	-22.3	-21.7
Common functions and eliminations	-1.2
Grand total	2,444.0	-0.5	-0.5

Finland, total	1,954.9	-2.9	-2.0
Other countries, total	489.2	+10.3	+6.2
Grand total	2,444.0	-0.5	-0.5

Change, % indicates the change when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The comparable change % has been calculated for the grocery trade by excluding the impact of acquisitions and divestments completed in 2018, and by 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 and Sørbø Trelast AS in the building and technical trade, and the Volkswagen, Audi and SEAT businesses of Huittisten Laatuauto and LänsiAuto in the car trade.

In March 2019, the number of Kesko's wholesale selling days in Finland was 21, which equals the number of wholesale selling days the year before. Likewise, the number of selling days in January-March 2019 equalled the number in 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 10 5322 338.

Kesko Corporation

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