Kesko Food's Cassa discounter chain to expand significantly
Kesko Food is expanding its Cassa discounter chain in Finland with seven new stores before Easter. The first of them will open in February in Helsinki, Seinäjoki and Kausala. In March the chain will expand to Hämeenlinna, Laukaa, Imatrankoski and Vihti.
Cassa's operating principle is to offer products to consumers at permanently low prices. The product selection mainly comprises foods, but also includes non-food items, such as textiles and household appliances. Euro Shopper products are the cornerstone of the selection.
The first Cassa store in Helsinki will open at Pihlajamäki on 17 February. The following week, on 24 February, Cassa discounters will open in the town centre of Seinäjoki and at Kausala, the municipal centre of Iitti. All stores will hire 10-15 employees.
At present, the Cassa chain includes 12 stores. The first of them were opened a year ago and now there is a Cassa discounter in Anjalankoski, Haukipudas, Jämsänkoski, Kajaani, Kotka, Mänttä, Salo, Viitasaari, Virrat, Ylivieska and two in Vantaa.
Kesko Food's objective is to create a competitive operating model also for the Finnish discounter market. Cassa's low prices are mainly based on an efficient supply chain, simple store concept and wide international purchasing co-operation.
The new store type has been tested in the Cassa stores opened last year and the results have been even better than expected. The experiences gained from Cassa have been used in the other food store chains of the K-Alliance, too. Testing has focused on the location, size, product selection and pricing. One of the stores was also tested as a building project, which enabled lower building costs as a result of a detailed specification of size and quality targets and more efficient planning and construction.
Cassa Oy, the company responsible for operating the Cassa discounters, is a Kesko Food subsidiary.
Further information:
Managing Director Mika Rautiainen, Cassa Oy, tel. +358 1053 24900, or +358 50 413 6584
