2007-04-12 10:00:00 CEST

2007-04-12 10:00:00 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

The Kesko Group sales were up by 12.3% in March


The Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, in March 2007 totalled
€840.2 million, an increase of 12.3% over the corresponding period
last year. In January-March, the sales, excluding VAT, were
€2,223.6 million, up 11.3% on the previous year. In January-March,
the sales of foreign operations were €436.2 million, accounting
for 19.6% of the Group's sales.

Kesko Food's sales progressed well in March (9.1%) and totalled
€337.6 million. The sales to K-food store chains increased by
9.3%. In addition, the home goods sales of Citymarket Oy
progressed particularly well (23%).

Rautakesko's sales in March grew by 28.1% and were €216.0 million.
Sales in Finland were up by 14.5%. Abroad, sales increased by
40.3%. Sales growth in the Baltic countries was 47.6% and in
Russia 60.2%.

VV-Auto's sales in March were €82.1 million, which is up by 14.8%
on last year. In Finland, the number of first registrations of
passenger cars dropped by 7.4% in March. The market share of
passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 14.0% (14.1%).

Anttila's sales in March were €44.5 million, maintaining the level
of the previous year. The sales trend was significantly affected
by the closing down of the City department store in Helsinki due
to the expiry of the lease agreement.

Kesko Agro's sales in March were €67.8 million, down 0.4%. Sales
in Finland dropped by 4.8% due to a decrease in the sales of
animal feed and chemicals. The sales in the Baltic countries grew
by 10.2% thanks to the construction machinery trade.

The Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, in March 2007

                                March  2007        1.1. - 31.03.20
                                                          07
                            € million   Change,         €   Change,
                                              %   million         %
Kesko Food, Finland             336.2       9.1     890.8       8.9
Kesko Food, other                 1.4      12.2       3.9       4.7
countries
Kesko Food, total               337.6       9.1     894.7       8.9
Rautakesko, Finland              91.6      14.5     222.2      15.0
Rautakesko, other               124.4      40.3     320.2      32.9
countries
Rautakesko, total               216.0      28.1     542.4      24.9
VV-Auto, Finland                 80.1      13.9     247.7       5.2
VV-Auto, other countries          2.0      71.8       5.8      91.5
VV-Auto, total                   82.1      14.8     253.5       6.3
Anttila, Finland                 43.5       1.9     114.5       0.7
Anttila, other countries          1.0     -41.6       5.2     -16.8
Anttila, total                   44.5       0.2     119.7      -0.2
Kesko Agro, Finland              45.8      -4.8     118.5       5.5
Kesko Agro, other                22.0      10.2      51.3       0.1
countries
Kesko Agro, total                67.8      -0.4     169.8       3.8
Other operating                  90.3       5.0     232.2       2.1
activities, Finland
Other operating                  17.7      15.3      52.4      29.6
activities,
other countries
Other operating                 108.0       6.6     284.6       6.2
activities, total
Others/eliminations             -15.8               -41.1          
                                                                   
Finland, total                  673.1       8.5   1,787.4       8.1
Other countries, total          167.1      31.1     436.2      26.7
Grand total                     840.2      12.3   2,223.6      11.3

Other operating activities consist of Konekesko, Intersport
Finland, Indoor Group, Musta Pörssi, WellStep, Tähti Optikko
Group, Kauko-Telko and support functions.

Starting from 1 March 2006, VV-Auto's sales figures include the
sales of the new Volkswagen and Audi retail outlets acquired.

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

In March 2007, the number of trading days in Kesko's wholesale was
22, which was one less than in March 2006. The total number of
trading days in January-March was the same as in the previous
year.

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

Further information is available from Senior Vice President Arja
Talma, CFO, tel. +358 1053 22113.


Kesko Corporation



Harri Utoslahti
Communications Manager


DISTRIBUTION
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Main news media