Kesko reports 1.6% sales increase in August
Kesko Oyj's sales in August 2023 reached €1,079.2 million, a 1.6% increase compared to the previous year. The grocery trade division was a key driver of this growth.
Helsinki – Finnish retail group Kesko Oyj announced its August sales figures in mid-September. The company reported total sales of €1,079.2 million for August 2023, marking a 1.6% increase year-on-year. On a comparable basis, excluding acquisitions and divestments, sales grew by 1.0%.
The grocery trade division demonstrated strength, with sales rising by 5.3% to €577.8 million. Sales to K Group grocery stores increased by 4.8%, and sales of home and specialty goods (non-food) in K-Citymarket stores saw significant growth. Kespro, the foodservice wholesale division, reported a 6.3% sales increase.
In contrast, the building and technical trade division experienced a 5.1% decrease in sales, totaling €390.6 million. This decline was attributed to weakened construction volumes. Sales in Finland decreased by 7.5% on a comparable basis, while Sweden saw a 14.9% drop and Norway a 3.0% decrease. Onninen's sales fell by 2.5% comparably.
The car trade division reported a 6.6% increase in sales, reaching €112.8 million. Comparable sales growth in this segment was 13.7%. The sports trade segment, which was integrated into the car trade division from April 2023, saw a 16.3% decline in sales.
For the period of January to August 2023, Kesko Group's total sales amounted to €8,033.9 million, a 1.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This year-to-date performance aligns with the August trend, despite a notable decrease in the building and technical trade division's January-August figures.