Uneven growth for Kesko

Kesko has published further details of the business activities in 2010 of its builders’ merchant and DIY division, which experienced growth of 9.0 per cent to € 2.519 mio. It recorded double-digit growth in all its foreign markets apart from those in the Baltic states: K-Rauta in Sweden grew by 11.1 per cent (though -0.2 per cent in local currency), Byggmakker in Norway by 14.7 per cent (5.2 per cent), Rautakesko in Russia by 20.5 per cent (9.9 per cent) and Oma in Belarus by 38.5 per cent (40.6 per cent). Rautakesko recorded a loss of 17.6 per cent in Estonia and 1.1 per cent in Latvia, while Senukai’s sales in Lithuania fell by 12.8 per cent. Altogether the Finnish group’s international sales in this division increased by 8.0 per cent to € 1.357 mio and now make up 53.9 per cent of total sales. Rautakesko’s sales in Finland saw growth of 10.2 per cent to € 1.163 mio.