Ongoing sales decline for Kesko

The Finnish Kesko Group has announced continuing sales losses in its builders’ merchant and DIY retail division. The sales figure of € 238.9 mio in September was 5.8 per cent below the corresponding period last year. Also reported is a sales minus of 7.5 per cent to € 2.0576 bn for the first nine months. The decline of 10.0 per cent to € 1.117 bn in the group’s international business is among other things a reflection of the fact that the Byggmakker chain in Norway, which belongs to Kesko, has reduced its number of stores. In Finland Kesko reports sales of € 940 mio in its DIY and building business, which is 4.3 per cent down.