Far below previous year

Sales of the Finnish Kesko Group’s building materials and DIY division amounted to € 570.2 mio in the first quarter, or 10.8 per cent below last year’s comparable figure. Developments in Norway, in combination with the weak situation of the market and fewer shopping days, were mainly responsible for the decline. The number of stores operated by Byggmakker, the Norwegian subsidiary of Kesko, fell by 17 to a total of 89. In March the division’s sales figure of € 208.2 mio was 18.5 per cent down on the same period last year.