Strong quarterly sales

Rautakesko (Finland) has announced sales growth of 58.9 per cent to € 434.2 mio for the first three months of 2006. The builders' merchant and DIY retail group recorded sales of € 193.2 mio in Finland, or 4.4 per cent more than in the comparable quarter last year. Sales growth of 173 per cent to € 241 mio was achieved by foreign operations. The strong international growth results from the acquisition of Norgros in Norway and Stroymaster in Russia, as well as a massive sales increase in Sweden (+42 per cent) and the Baltic countries (+37 per cent).