Kesko is one of the world's leading companies in sustainability
KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 13.09.2012 AT 15.00 1 (2)
Kesko has again been included in the Dow Jones sustainability indexes DJSI World and DJSI Europe. Kesko's total score increased from the previous year and Kesko was given the highest scores in four areas.
Kesko has been included in the Dow Jones sustainability indexes since 2003. According to Matti Halmesmäki, Kesko's President and CEO, the company's long presence indicates the fact that sustainability is taken into account in all business operations. Assessments made by independent international parties and rankings in the leading sustainability indexes tell all stakeholders, such as customers, investors and shareholders, about the level of the company's corporate responsibility work.
"Responsible selections and services offered by the trading sector have an increasing impact on customers' purchasing decisions. Especially in times of financial uncertainty, companies' solvency, bearing corporate responsibility and good corporate governance also have a higher influence than before on investors' decisions. Investors appreciate the predictability and reliability generated by long-standing responsibility work as well as cost savings resulting from energy-efficiency," says Matti Halmesmäki.
Responsibility of the top companies in the world is measured with DJSI indexes
Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) are the most valued and long-established worldwide sustainability indexes. Companies are included in the DJSI indexes on the basis of the responsibility assessment made by the SAM Group (Sustainable Asset Management) of Switzerland. The assessment is an extensive analysis, in which the company replies to around one hundred general and sector-specific questions on economic, social and environmental responsibility.
The world's 2,500 largest companies were invited to SAM's 2012 assessment, and the best ones in each sector were included in the DJSI indexes. Annually, new companies are added to and old ones are deleted from the list. This year, 340 firms - of which 41 were new ones - were included in DJSI World, while 166 firms - of which 17 new ones - were included in DJSI Europe. In addition to Kesko, six other companies from Finland were included.
The best scores in the sector in four areas
Kesko's total score increased from the previous year. In its sector (Food and Drug Retailers), Kesko was given the highest scores in four areas: for Codes of Conduct/Compliance/Corruption&Bribery, Supply Chain Management, Raw Material Sourcing and Social Reporting.
Kesko is included in several sustainability indexes
Kesko is included in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list and the World's Most Ethical Companies list.
Kesko is included in the FTSE4Good Global and FTSE4Good Europe indexes focusing on responsible investment.
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has selected Kesko to the Nordic Carbon Disclosure Leadership index.
In the SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2012, Kesko was selected among the leaders in sustainable development in the Food & Drug Retailers sector.
In 2011 and 2012, the World Finance Magazine awarded Kesko as the best in Finland in terms of corporate governance development and reporting.
Further information:
Merja Haverinen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Responsibility, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22764.
www.sustainability-indexes.com
Kesko is a highly valued listed trading sector company. It manages retail store chains that are valued by customers and efficiently produces services for retail store chains' purchasing, logistics, network development and data management. Kesko's operations include the food, home and speciality goods, building and home improvement, and car and machine trades. Its division parent companies and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. Kesko and K-retailers form the K-Group, whose retail sales totalled 12 billion (VAT 0%) in 2011. The K-Group employs around 45,000 people.
