Kesko opened the seventh K-ruoka store in Russia

KESKO PRESS RELEASE 28.05.2015 AT 14.30 1(1)

Kesko today opened a new K-ruoka store at Krikkovskoye Shosse 69 in Kingisepp in the Leningrad Oblast.

The K-ruoka store is the chain's seventh store. It is located on a property owned by Kesko in the steadily developing city of Kingisepp, around 110 km from downtown St. Petersburg. Russia's largest port, Ust Luga, is one of the building projects in the city area. There are around 80,000 residents within the catchment area of the store now opened.

According to Kari Heiskanen, Kesko Food's Country Director for Russia, the economic situation in Russia has not had a significant impact on the operations of the K-ruoka stores.

- Our concept has proved to be very competitive. Customers value the concept that focuses on freshness, good quality and Finnish products. Based on the good experiences, we will continue the implementation of our strategy for Russia, while naturally carefully considering every new capital expenditure.

The next K-ruoka store now being built will open in June.

Further information is available from Kesko Food's Country Director for Russia, Kari Heiskanen, tel. +7 812 331 7723.

Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a highly valued listed trading sector company. It manages retail store chains that are valued by customers and efficiently produces services for retail store chains' purchasing, logistics, network development and data management. Kesko operates in the grocery trade, the home improvement and speciality goods trade and the car and machine trade. Its division parent companies and chains act in close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. Kesko and K-retailers form the K-Group, whose retail sales totalled around EUR11.3 billion (VAT 0%) in 2014. The K-Group employs around 45,000 people.

Besides Finland, Kesko seeks growth particularly in the Russian market. In addition to seven K-ruoka stores, Kesko has 13 K-rauta stores and 19 Intersport stores in Russia. In addition, Konekesko exports Yamarin boats to Russia.