Kesko Oyj - Company Announcement

Kesko's sales increased by 1.0% in December, sales for the whole year increased by 3.4%

KESKO CORPORATION STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.01.2009 AT 11.00 1(2)

The Kesko Group's sales from continuing operations in December 2008
totalled €803.1 million (excluding VAT), which is up by 1.0% compared
with the previous year. In January-December, the sales from
continuing operations were €9,734.6 million (excluding VAT), up 3.4%.
The sales from foreign operations in December were €126.8 million, a
decrease of 18.1%. Foreign operations accounted for 16% of the
Group's sales.

In December, Kesko Food's sales were €428.1 million, representing an
increase of 11.7%. Sales to K-food store chains grew by 14.7%.

Rautakesko's sales decreased by 19.1% to €137.6 million in December.
Sales in Finland were down 9.6%. Sales abroad decreased by 22.8% in
terms of euros and by 13.1% in terms of local currencies. In the
Baltic countries, sales dropped by 21.2%. Stroymaster's sales in
Russia increased by 19.7% in terms of euros.

VV-Auto's sales in December were €44.5 million, which was 40.4% more
than in the previous year. The comparable year's sales decrease was
due to the car tax change published in November 2007. The market
share of passenger cars represented by VV-Auto was 20.0% (16.0%).

Anttila's December sales were €84.0 million, a decrease of 5.1%. The
sales of Anttila department stores decreased by 7.8% and those of
Kodin Ykkönen department stores for home goods and interior
decoration by 11.4%. NetAnttila's distance sales were up 35.4%.

Kesko Agro's sales in December were €59.7 million, down 11.3%. Sales
in Finland decreased by 22.9% due to the trade of grain and
agricultural inputs. Sales in the Baltic countries grew by 10.0% as a
result of the grain trade.

The Kesko Group's sales, excluding VAT, in December 2008:

                              December  2008        1.1. - 31.12.2008
                             € million Change, % € million  Change, %
Kesko Food, Finland              426.7      11.8   4,151.9        6.3
Kesko Food, other countries        1.4     -16.1      14.7      -12.6
Kesko Food, total                428.1      11.7   4,166.6        6.3
Rautakesko, Finland               42.8      -9.6     916.0       -2.9
Rautakesko, other countries       94.8     -22.8   1,646.3        0.6
Rautakesko, total                137.6     -19.1   2,562.3       -0.7
VV-Auto, Finland                  43.9      42.2     884.3       11.3
VV-Auto, other countries           0.6     -25.2      15.4      -40.2
VV-Auto, total                    44.5      40.4     899.7        9.7
Anttila, Finland                  83.1      -5.2     542.0       -0.7
Anttila, other countries           0.9       9.2      19.0       -4.7
Anttila, total                    84.0      -5.1     561.0       -0.8
Kesko Agro, Finland               33.6     -22.9     530.9        5.7
Kesko Agro, other countries       26.2      10.0     320.5        8.3
Kesko Agro, total                 59.7     -11.3     851.4        6.7
Other operating activities,       47.3      -7.2     656.8       -3.2
Finland
Other operating activities,
other countries                    3.0     -45.1      55.6      -29.2
Other operating activities,       50.3     -10.9     712.5       -5.9
total
Common operations and
eliminations                      -1.1               -18.8

Finland, total                   676.3       5.6   7,665.7        4.3
Other countries, total           126.8     -18.1   2,069.0        0.2
Grand total                      803.1       1.0   9,734.6        3.4



Other operating activities consist of Konekesko, Intersport Finland,
Indoor Group, Musta Pörssi and Kenkäkesko.

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.

Starting from July 2007, Rautakesko's sales figures include the sales
of OMA, the Belarusian subsidiary of Rautakesko's subsidiary Senukai.

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

In December 2008, the number of selling days in Kesko's wholesale was
20, which was three more than in December 2007. In January-December,
the total number of wholesale selling days was three more than in the
previous year. The number of retail days in December was the same as
last 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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