Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's May sales decreased by 18.5%

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 12.06.2009 AT 11.00 1(2)

Kesko's May sales decreased by 18.5%

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in May 2009
totalled €705.6 million (excluding VAT), which is down by 18.5%
compared with the previous year. The number of wholesale and retail
selling days in May was two less than in the previous year. In
January-May the sales totalled €3,478.3 million (excluding VAT),
which is down by 14.6%.

In the food trade, sales in May were €310.4 million, a decrease of
0.6%. Sales to K-food store chains were up 2.4%.

In the home and speciality goods trade, sales in May were €111.3
million, down 9.0%. Anttila's sales were €34.9 million, down 14.5%.
The sales of K-citymarket's home and speciality goods trade were
€46.4 million, up 4.1%.

In the building and home improvement trade, sales in May were €218.8
million, a decrease of 27.0%. Sales in Finland were down 31.0%. Sales
in foreign countries decreased by 23.6% in terms of euros and by
16.3% in terms of local currencies. In the Baltic countries, sales
were down 33.5%. In Russia, Stroymaster's sales dropped by 13.3% in
terms of euros, but increased by 2.7% in terms of the local currency.

In the car and machinery trade, VV-Auto's sales in May were €44.0
million, which is down by 46.5% compared with the previous year. In
addition to the market downturn in the car trade, the sales
performance was affected by the car tax act, which came into force in
April and 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 by 49.2% in May. The market
share of passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 17.7% (16.9%).
Konekesko's sales in May were €33.6 million, down 47.5%.


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


                              May        2009        1.1. - 31.5.2009
                              € million Change, % € million Change, %
Food trade, total                 310.4      -0.6   1,546.2       3.5
Home and speciality goods         109.3      -8.4     560.0      -5.4
trade, Finland
Home and speciality goods           2.0     -34.5      12.4     -43.5
trade, other countries
Home and speciality goods         111.3      -9.0     572.4      -6.8
trade, total
Building and home improvement      94.5     -31.0     467.4     -25.3
trade, Finland
Building and home improvement     124.3     -23.6     498.1     -27.9
trade, other countries
Building and home improvement     218.8     -27.0     965.6     -26.7
trade, total
Car and machinery trade,           62.3     -44.4     391.0     -31.9
Finland
Car and machinery trade,           15.2     -55.5      70.0     -50.7
other countries
Car and machinery trade,           77.5     -47.0     461.0     -35.6
total
Common operations and             -12.4               -67.0
eliminations

Finland, total                    563.7     -15.2   2,894.8      -9.9
Other countries, total            141.9     -29.2     583.4     -32.0
Grand total                       705.6     -18.5   3,478.3     -14.6



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 May 2009, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was 19,
which is two less than in May 2008. The total number of selling days
in January-May was four less than in the previous year. The number of
retail selling days in May was 27, which is two less than in the
previous year. The total number of retail selling days in January-May
was four 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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www.kesko.fi