K-rauta Tukums opens in Latvia
K-rauta Tukums, the eighth K-rauta in Latvia, opens to customers today. The store is located at 50 km from the capital, Riga. The store area is 7,350 square metres and the product selection includes 18,000 articles representing gardening, interior decoration, house technology, building materials and tools. 56 employees have been hired for the new store.
"Opening the K-rauta in Tukums is part of the chain’s plan to expand outside Riga. Rautakesko’s rapid development and growth enable us to focus on the expansion of the store network in Latvia. This is an important step for us in the pursuit of leadership in the Latvian do-it-yourself market", says Guntis Sokolovskis, Managing Director of AS Rautakesko.
"Every new K-rauta adds to our possibilities to live up to our “home improvement mission”. Modern K-rauta stores promote better living conditions for people in smaller towns like Tukums. The new K-rauta provides not only a wide range of products but also a variety of home improvement services to meet the growing demand in Latvia,” says Raul Kadaru, Region Director of Rautakesko.
According to Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau, in January-March, retail sales in Latvia increased by 28% compared with the year 2006. During the same period, Rautakesko’s sales grew by 79%. AS Rautakesko is the second biggest DIY retailer in Latvia with its 11% share of the market. Last year, Rautakesko’s sales in Latvia were 71.5 million euros.
The first K-rauta in Latvia opened in 2002. Six of the total eight are owned by Rautakesko and two are partner stores. A second new K-rauta will open in Latvia during this year, and six more in 2008.
A photo of the new store can be downloaded from www.kesko.fi/Material > Image archive > Rautakesko.
Further information:
Guntis Sokolovskis, Managing Director, AS Rautakesko, tel. +371 292 626 98
Raul Kadaru, Region Director, Rautakesko Ltd, tel. +372 507 9696
K-rauta stores (www.k-rauta.com) meet the customer demand for safe ideas and solutions for building and living. K-rauta stores operate in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and Russia.
Rautakesko (www.rautakesko.com) is engaged in the hardware and builders’ supplies and interior decoration trade through the K-rauta, Rautia, Byggmakker and Senukai retail chains. Rautakesko manages its chains, combines their purchasing power, arranges efficient logistics, acquires store sites and ensures strong marketing and development support for the stores. Rautakesko operates in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Russia.
Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a Finnish retail specialist whose stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers through valued products and services at competitive prices. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and Russia.
