Budget Sport stores now grant Plussa points

All four Budget Sport stores in Finland give Plussa points from the beginning of August. Currently there are Budget Sport stores in Tammisto, Vantaa, in the Ideapark shopping centre in Lempäälä, in Friisilä, Espoo and in Kuninkoja, Raisio.

The business idea of Budget Sport is to offer customers a wide selection of high-quality sports equipment and clothing at low prices. In its area, Budget Sport provides the largest selection of products related to outdoor activities in particular, including hiking, fishing and hunting equipment and clothing. Starting from today, the customers of Budget Sport also receive Plussa points for all their purchases.

The Budget Sport chain, which is part of Intersport Finland, has proved a success, and the network has expanded faster than anticipated. The first pilot store, opened in Tammisto two years ago, became the largest sports store in Finland in terms of sales during the very first year in business. The aim is to open a total of 6-8 Budget Sport stores in various parts of Finland. The next one will be opened in Limingantulli, Oulu in the spring of 2009.

Finland has been acting as a pilot country for the Budget Sport concept. Intersport International intends to launch a chain of Budget Sport stores in various parts of Europe in the next few years.

Photos of Budget Sport stores can be downloaded at http://aineistopankki.kesko.fi/kesko_en

Further information:
Juha Nurminen, President, Intersport Finland Ltd, tel. +358 1053 40950 or +358 50 525 3847
Niina Ryynänen, Managing Director, K-Plus Oy, tel. +358 1053 37100

Intersport International ICC is an international sports marketing chain that consists of national companies and was established in 1968. The headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland. There are nearly 5,000 Intersport stores in 31 countries. Intersport Finland Ltd, part of the Kesko Group, is a shareholder of the corporation and the holder of the Intersport and Budget Sport licences in Finland.

There are currently around 3.6 million K-Plussa cardholders in nearly 1.9 million households in Finland. The K-Plussa card is accepted at over 3,500 outlets. The K-Plussa cooperation partners include Neste, Teboil, OP-Pohjola Group, Sonera, A-lehdet, Helsinki Energy, Scandic Hotels, Nordea, Finnkino, and Europcar. The number of Plussa customers keeps growing – last year the K-Group gained more than 170,000 new Plussa customers.