Finland Kesko Group achieved a turnover of 1.1 billion euros in March, up 6.1% (5.6% like-for-like) compared to the same period last year.
Mikko Helander, President and CEO of Kesko Group, said: “In March, Kesko sales increased significantly in the construction and building services sector, a 24% increase due to the business sales growth. In groceries, sales were at a good level despite the timing of the second busiest selling season of the year, Easter.
Divisional performance
In groceries, sales for the month of March amounted to 522.4 million euros, down 1.4% compared to the same period last year.
The timing of Easter in April affected sales development, with grocery sales at K-food stores down 8.6%, the company noted.
Sales were also down in K-Citymarket’s home and specialty business, but Kespro sales were up 52.8%.
Sales in the construction and building-related services sector amounted to 488.8 million euros in March, an increase of 23.8% in local currencies.
The construction and building services trade, excluding specialized trade, saw its sales increase by 23.7% at a comparable rate.
Sales increased by 21.3% in Finland, 14.4% in Sweden and 21.2% in Norway.
In the specialist trade division, sales in the leisure trade increased by a comparable percentage of 26.7%.
Reported sales in the construction and construction services sector rose 25.0%.
Read more: The Kesko group achieves a turnover of 852.1 million euros in February
Delivery days
In March 2023, Kesko’s grocery and building and building services had as many delivery days as the previous year.
From January to March, Kesko’s grocery store had as many delivery days as the previous year.
Kesko’s construction and construction services sector in Finland, Sweden and Norway had one more delivery day compared to the previous year.
In grocery, Saturdays are wholesale delivery days, unlike in the construction and building services industry.
The effect of a day’s delivery on Kesko’s wholesale sales under normal conditions, depending on the industry, is around 2-4%.
© 2023 European supermarket magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click on subscribe register for ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.