2009-05-15 10:00:00 CEST

2009-05-15 10:00:49 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

English
Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's April sales decreased by 18.8%



KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 15.05.2009 AT 11.00 1(2)

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in April 2009
totalled €732.2 million (excluding VAT), which is down by 18.8%
compared with the previous year. Due to Easter occurring in April,
the number of wholesale and retail selling days in April was two less
than in the previous year. In January-April the sales totalled
€2,772.6million (excluding VAT), which is down by 13.6%.

In the food trade, sales in April were €341.1 million, an increase of
7.6%. Sales to K-food store chains were up 10.5%.

In the home and speciality goods trade, sales in April were €111.3
million, down 8.8%. Anttila's sales were €32.3 million, down 14.9%.
The sales of K-citymarket's home and speciality goods trade were
€43.8 million, up 4.6%.

In the building and home improvement trade, sales in April were
€211.0 million, a decrease of 33.3%. Sales in Finland were down
30.2%. Sales in foreign countries decreased by 36.2% in terms of
euros and by 30.2% in terms of local currencies. In the Baltic
countries, sales were down by 38.1%. In Russia, Stroymaster's sales
dropped by 14.6% in terms of euros, but increased by 2.2% in terms of
the local currency.

In the car and machinery trade, VV-Auto's sales in April were €48.3
million, which is down by 49.6% compared with the previous year. In
addition to the market downturn in the car trade, the sales
performance was affected by the new car tax act, because of which the
car tax levied on cars after 1 April 2009 is not included in the
sales figures. In Finland, new registrations of passenger cars
dropped in April by 52.1%. Konekesko's sales in April were €33.9
million, down 47.5%.

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

                                  April      2009    1.1. - 30.4.2009
                              € million Change, % € million Change, %
Food trade, total                 341.1       7.6   1,235.8       4.5
Home and speciality goods         109.0      -7.9     450.7      -4.6
trade, Finland
Home and speciality goods           2.3     -37.4      10.5     -45.0
trade, other countries
Home and speciality goods         111.3      -8.8     461.2      -6.2
trade, total
Building and home improvement     105.8     -30.2     373.0     -23.7
trade, Finland
Building and home improvement     105.2     -36.2     373.8     -29.2
trade, other countries
Building and home improvement     211.0     -33.3     746.8     -26.6
trade, total
Car and machinery trade,           65.2     -48.1     328.6     -28.8
Finland
Car and machinery trade,           16.9     -50.7      54.9     -49.2
other countries
Car and machinery trade,           82.1     -48.7     383.5     -32.7
total
Common operations and             -13.3               -54.6
eliminations

Finland, total                    607.2     -12.9   2,331.1      -8.6
Other countries, total            125.0     -38.6     441.5     -32.9
Grand total                       732.2     -18.8   2,772.6     -13.6



With effect from 1 January 2009, the Kesko Group's 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).
Change, % indicates the change over the corresponding period of the
previous year.
In April 2009, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was
20, which is two less than in April 2008. The total number of selling
days in January-April was two less than in the previous year. The
number of retail selling days in April was 24, which is two less than
in the previous year. The total number of retail selling days in
January-April was two 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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