Finland's Kesko Group saw its sales rise 3.3% in December 2019, with its grocery business posting marginal sales growth in the period.
Grocery sales at the business were up 0.3% for the month, to €515.4 million, with food sales putting in a solid performance in the run up to Christmas, according to the retailer. However, homewares and specialty goods saw a decline in sales, it added.
Sales in Kesko's building and technical trade were up 3.4% to €299.3 million in the month, while car trade sales were up 2.5% to €61.8 million.
Overall, the group posted sales of €875.8 million in December 2019, an increase of 3.3%, or an increase of 1.3% in comparable sales across continuing operations.
Sales Performance
“Kesko’s sales grew in December by 3.3%, boosted by the car trade and building and technical trade," commented Kesko president and CEO Mikko Helander. "Growth was impacted by the fact that the month had one wholesale selling day more than the year before, and by the low comparison figures for the car trade."
Helander noted that in the grocery trade, "sales growth in the home and speciality goods trade in particular was decelerated by the exceptionally warm winter weather and by the changes concerning tax refunds, which impacted purchasing power".
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
