Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's sales decreased by 15.2% in January

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 13.02.2009 AT 11.00 1(2)

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in January 2009
totalled €661.3 million (excluding VAT), which is down by 15.2%
compared with the previous year. The sales from foreign operations in
January were €98.5 million, a decrease of 33.8%. Foreign operations
accounted for 15% of the Group's sales.

In January, food trade sales were €287.5 million, representing an
increase of 3.6%. Sales to K-food store chains grew by 4.7%.

Home and speciality goods trade sales totalled €120.7 million, down
3.5%. The sales of household appliances and furniture decreased. The
sales of sports goods and clothing increased. Anttila's sales were
€42.3 million, down 8.6%. The sales of K-citymarket's home and
speciality goods were €43.3 million, up 13.5%. The trend is
attributable to the new K-citymarkets opened towards the end of 2008.

Building and home improvement trade sales totalled €157.2 million in
January, a decrease of 29.8%. Sales in Finland were down 29.7%. Sales
abroad decreased by 29.9% in terms of euros and by 22.7% in terms of
local currencies. In the Baltic countries, sales declined by 36.2%.
Stroymaster's sales in Russia increased by 5.7% in terms of euros and
by 24.1% in terms of the local currency.

In car and machinery trade, VV-Auto's sales in January were €80.9
million, which was 32.2% less than in 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 January by a total of 46.4%. The market
share of passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 19.3% (17.3%).
Konekesko's sales in January were €26.8 million, down 39.2%.

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


                                                  January   2009
                                                  € million Change, %
Food trade, Finland                                   287.0       3.8
Food trade, other countries                             0.5     -49.1
Food trade, total                                     287.5       3.6
Home and speciality goods trade, Finland              117.1      -1.6
Home and speciality goods trade, other countries        3.6     -41.2
Home and speciality goods trade, total                120.7      -3.5
Building and home improvement trade, Finland           72.5     -29.7
Building and home improvement trade, other             84.7     -29.9
countries
Building and home improvement trade, total            157.2     -29.8
Car and machinery trade, Finland                       98.0     -31.0
Car and machinery trade, other countries                9.6     -54.7
Car and machinery trade, total                        107.6     -34.1
Common operations and eliminations                    -11.8

Finland, total                                        562.8     -10.9
Other countries, total                                 98.5     -33.8
Grand total                                           661.3     -15.2


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 January 2009, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was
20, which was two less than in January 2008.

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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