Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's sales decreased in March by 4.5%

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.04.2009 AT 11.00 1(2)

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in March 2009
totalled €764.1 million (excluding VAT), which is down by 4.5%
compared with the previous year. In January-March the sales totalled
€2,040.4 million (excluding VAT), which is down by 11.5%. The sales
from foreign operations in March were €121.7 million, a decrease of
25.3%. Foreign operations accounted for 16% of the Group's March
sales.

In the food trade, sales in March were €325.5 million, an increase of
7.9%. Sales to K-food store chains were up 9.4%.

In the home and speciality goods trade, sales in March were €127.3
million and matched the previous year's level. The sales of sports
goods and clothing increased. The sales of household appliances and
furniture decreased. Anttila's sales were €39.1 million, down 7.1%.
The sales of K-citymarket's home and speciality goods trade were
€46.2 million, up 10.0%. The number of retail selling days in March
was two more than in the previous year.

In the building and home improvement trade, sales in March were
€216.1 million, a decrease of 13.2%. Sales in Finland were down 7.5%.
Sales in foreign countries decreased by 18.8% in terms of euros and
by 10.2% in terms of local currencies. In the Baltic countries, sales
declined by 36.0%. In Russia, Stroymaster's sales decreased by 12.4%
in terms of euros, but increased by 7.5% in terms of the local
currency.

In the car and machinery trade, VV-Auto's sales in March were €76.5
million, which is 3.2% down on the previous year. In Finland, new
registrations of passenger cars dropped in March by a total of 14.7%.
The market share of passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 19.2%
(15.5%). Konekesko's sales in March were €34.9 million, down 40.4%.
In Finland, the sales decreased by 31.4% and in foreign countries by
48.1%.

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


                                  March  2009        1.1. - 31.3.2009
                              € million Change, % € million Change, %

Food trade                        325.5       7.9     894.7       3.4
Home and speciality goods         124.7       1.6     341.7      -3.5
trade, Finland
Home and speciality goods           2.6     -41.6       8.2     -46.8
trade, other countries
Home and speciality goods         127.3       0.1     349.8      -5.3
trade, total
Building and home improvement     114.7      -7.5     267.2     -20.8
trade, Finland
Building and home improvement     101.4     -18.8     268.6     -26.0
trade, other countries
Building and home improvement     216.1     -13.2     535.8     -23.5
trade, total
Car and machinery trade,           94.2      -9.9     263.5     -21.6
Finland
Car and machinery trade,           17.0     -48.4      37.9     -48.4
other countries
Car and machinery trade,          111.2     -19.1     301.4     -26.4
total
Common operations and             -16.0               -41.2
eliminations

Finland, total                    642.5       0.8   1 723.9      -6.9
Other countries, total            121.7     -25.3     316.5     -30.3
Grand total                       764.1      -4.5   2 040.4     -11.5


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 March 2009, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was
22, which is three more than in March 2008. The total number of
selling days in January-March was the same as in the previous year.
The number of retail selling days in March was 26, which is two more
than in the previous year. The total number of retail selling 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 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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