Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's October sales matched the level of the previous year

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 17.11.2008 AT 11.00 1(2)

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in October 2008
totalled €842.8 million (excluding VAT), compared with €844.4 million
(-0.2%) in the corresponding period of the previous year. In
January-October, the sales from continuing operations were €8,211.1
million (excluding VAT), up 4.8%. The sales from foreign operations
in October were €182.3 million, a decrease of 9.3%. Foreign
operations accounted for 22% of the Group's sales.

In October, Kesko Food's sales were €370.7 million, representing an
increase of 11.6%. Sales to K-food store chains grew by 15.2%.

Rautakesko's sales decreased by 10.9% to €218.7 million in October.
Sales in Finland were down 9.9%. Sales abroad decreased by 11.4%. In
the Baltic countries, sales dropped by 12.1%. Stroymaster's sales in
Russia increased by 33.7%.

VV-Auto's sales in October were €72.5 million, which was 7.0% less
than in the previous year. In Finland, first registrations of
passenger cars decreased by a total of 8.3% in October. The
registrations of passenger cars represented by VV-Auto increased by
6.4% on the previous year and their market share was up from 15.5% to
17.9%.

Anttila's October sales were €46.8 million, a decrease of 4.7%. The
sales of Anttila department stores increased by 0.7% and those of
Kodin Ykkönen department stores decreased by 9.6%. NetAnttila's
distance sales were down 13.7%.

Kesko Agro's sales in October were €80.7 million, up 7.2%. Sales in
Finland increased by 5.0% due to the growth of animal feed and
chemicals trade. Sales in the Baltic countries grew by 10.2% owing to
the growth in the trade of grain, animal feed and chemicals.

The Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, in October 2008:


                               October  2008        1.1. - 31.10.2008
                             € million Change, % € million  Change, %
Kesko Food, Finland              369.4      11.7   3,387.1        6.5
Kesko Food, other countries        1.3     -21.5      12.4       -9.4
Kesko Food, total                370.7      11.6   3,399.5        6.5
Rautakesko, Finland               76.6      -9.9     820.1       -0.7
Rautakesko, other countries      142.1     -11.4   1,433.1        4.8
Rautakesko, total                218.7     -10.9   2,253.1        2.7
VV-Auto, Finland                  70.8      -7.4     795.2        8.8
VV-Auto, other countries           1.7      12.8      14.1      -37.8
VV-Auto, total                    72.5      -7.0     809.3        7.4
Anttila, Finland                  45.2      -3.8     407.2        0.4
Anttila, other countries           1.6     -24.0      16.9       -5.0
Anttila, total                    46.8      -4.7     424.1        0.2
Kesko Agro, Finland               46.8       5.0     459.7       10.5
Kesko Agro, other countries       33.8      10.2     269.5       10.7
Kesko Agro, total                 80.7       7.2     729.2       10.6
Other operating activities,       53.5     -13.1     562.5       -1.5
Finland
Other operating activities,        1.8     -65.9      50.5      -24.4
other countries
Other operating activities,       55.3     -17.2     613.0       -3.9
total
Common operations and
eliminations                      -1.8               -17.2

Finland, total                   660.6       2.7   6,417.1        5.0
Other countries, total           182.3      -9.3   1,794.0        4.1
Grand total                      842.8      -0.2   8,211.1        4.8



Other operating activities consist of Konekesko, Intersport Finland,
Indoor Group, Musta Pörssi and Kenkäkesko.

On 28 February 2008, the Kesko Group classified Kauko-Telko, and on
31 March 2008, Tähti Optikko Group as discontinuing operations, which
is why the sales of those operating activities are not included in
the above figures.

Starting from July 2007, Rautakesko's sales figures include the sales
of OMA, the Belarusian subsidiary of Rautakesko's subsidiary Senukai.

Change, % indicates the change over the corresponding period of the
previous year.

In October 2008, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was
23, which was the same as in October 2007. In January-October, the
total number of wholesale selling days was two more than in the
previous year. The number of retail days in October was the same as
the year before.

Kesko publishes advance information about the K-Group's retail sales
quarterly, in connection with the interim financial reports.

Further information is available from Jukka Erlund, Vice President,
Corporate Controller, tel. +358 1053 22338.


Kesko Corporation



Paavo Moilanen
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Responsibility


DISTRIBUTION
Helsinki Stock Exchange
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