Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's February sales decreased by 15.3%

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 13.03.2009 AT 11.00 1(2)

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in February 2009
totalled €615.0 million (excluding VAT), which is down by 15.3%
compared with the previous year. In January-February the sales from
continuing operations totalled €1,276.3 million (excluding VAT),
which is down by 15.3%.  The sales from foreign operations in
February were €96.4 million, a decrease of 32.3%. Foreign operations
accounted for 16% of the Group's February sales.

Food trade sales in February were €281.7 million, a decrease of 1.5%.
Sales to K-food store chains equalled the level of the previous year.

Home and speciality goods trade sales in February totalled €101.9
million, down 13.2%. The sales of household appliances and furniture
decreased. The sales of sports goods and clothing increased.
Anttila's sales were €33.3 million, down 16.0%. The sales of
K-citymarket's home and speciality goods trade were €34.8 million,
down 7.7%. The number of retail selling days in February was one less
than in the previous year.

Building and home improvement trade sales in February decreased by
28.6% to €162.5 million. Sales in Finland were down 27.6%. Sales in
foreign countries decreased by 29.6% in terms of euros and by 22% in
terms of local currencies. In the Baltic countries, sales declined by
41.3%. Stroymaster's sales in Russia decreased by 9.9% in terms of
euros, but increased by 14.4% in terms of the local currency.

In car and machinery trade, VV-Auto's sales in February were €57.6
million, which was 15.4% down on the previous year. The comparable
period's sales were increased by the car tax change effective 1
January 2008. In Finland, first registrations of passenger cars
dropped in February by a total of 40.3%. The market share of
passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 18.6% (16.3%). Konekesko's
sales in February were €24.9 million, down 39.0%. In Finland, the
sales decreased by 38.1% and in foreign countries by 40.1%.

The Kesko Group's sales in euros, excluding VAT, in February 2009:

                               February  2009        1.1. - 28.2.2009
                              € million Change, % € million Change, %
Food trade, Finland               281.1      -1.3     568.1       1.2
Food trade, other countries         0.6     -49.7       1.2     -49.5
Food trade, total                 281.7      -1.5     569.2       1.0
Home and speciality goods          99.9     -11.2     216.9      -6.3
trade, Finland
Home and speciality goods           2.0     -58.7       5.6     -48.9
trade, other countries
Home and speciality goods         101.9     -13.2     222.5      -8.2
trade, total
Building and home improvement      79.9     -27.6     152.4     -28.6
trade, Finland
Building and home improvement      82.5     -29.6     167.2     -29.8
trade, other countries
Building and home improvement     162.5     -28.6     319.7     -29.2
trade, total
Car and machinery trade,           71.2     -20.4     169.2     -26.9
Finland
Car and machinery trade,           11.3     -41.5      20.9     -48.4
other countries
Car and machinery trade,           82.5     -24.1     190.1     -30.1
total
Common operations and             -13.5               -25.3
eliminations

Finland, total                    518.6     -11.1   1,081.4     -11.0
Other countries, total             96.4     -32.3     194.8     -33.1
Grand total                       615.0     -15.3   1,276.3     -15.3


With effect from 1 January 2009, the Kesko Group's primary reportable
segments are the food trade, the home and speciality goods trade, the
building and home improvement trade, and the car and machinery trade
(stock exchange release on 12 December 2008).

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.

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

In February 2009, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was
20, which is one less than in February 2008. The total number of
selling days in January-February was three less than in the previous
year. The number of retail selling in February days was 24, which is
one less than 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 Jukka Erlund, Vice President,
Corporate Controller, tel. +358 1053 22338.


Kesko Corporation



Paavo Moilanen
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Responsibility


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