Growth for Kesko division

The Finnish Kesko Group ended the first nine months of 2012 with sales in its builders’ merchant and DIY retail division up by 5.4 per cent to € 2.170 bn. The group’s Rautakesko subsidiary recorded sales in Finland of € 956 mio, or 2.1 per cent more than the same period last year. Admittedly this increase emanates to a considerable degree from the rural trade, whereas the builders’ merchant and DIY business overall contributed just € 678 mio, a decrease of 1.5 per cent. However, the K-rauta and Rautia retail channels saw growth of 1.3 per cent to € 827 mio.The share of sales generated abroad has risen to 55.9 per cent (€ 1.213 mio, a plus of 8.1 per cent). High rates of growth were reported from Russia, for example, where sales calculated in roubles have risen by 19.6 per cent.