Kesko and K-stores to partner Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle collection

KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 29.11.2013 AT 12.00 1(1)

This Christmas is the first time that Kesko and K-stores are the national partner of the Christmas Kettle collection. Collection partnership is part of Kesko's responsibility programme. The Salvation Army's Christmas Kettles have spread the joy of Christmas for as long as 108 years. The raised funds will be used for supporting those in need and for vouchers to the K-Group stores.

In many Finnish families, Christmas is overshadowed by financial distress. This year, Kesko and K-stores contribute to helping people with low income by contributing to the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle collection. In addition, the Salvation Army will distribute part of its aid in Kesko's vouchers for use in the K-Group stores.

The over centenarian collection is a familiar sight on wintery streets and an important part of Finnish Christmas traditions. This year, the collection will be widely visible also in K-stores and the K-Group media. The funds raised in the Christmas Kettle collection will be distributed in the form of food, clothes and vouchers to low-income families with children and people at risk of exclusion. In addition, camps for families and children as well as various hobby and club activities are arranged.

- Contributing to the Christmas Kettle collection is a new addition to the long-term responsibility work of Kesko and K-retailers. The objectives of the Christmas Kettle collection are well suited to our responsibility programme, and by contributing to the collection we are doing good together with our customers. The collection and the Youth Guarantee programme are among our most important responsibility projects of the year, says Matti Mettälä, Kesko's Senior Vice President responsible for Human Resources and Stakeholder relations.

The Christmas Kettle collection will be opened at the Helsinki Railway Station on Friday, 13 December 2013 at 17-20. Further information on the collection (in Finnish and Swedish) and the Kettle locations are available at: http://www.pelastusarmeija.fi/joulupata

Further information:
Matti Mettälä, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 105 322 200
Merja Haverinen, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 105 322 764

Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. We are a retail specialist whose chains have about 2,000 stores in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus. Our stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers.