Sales of groceries increased slightly in comparison to the first months of 2013. The more than €1.6 million of grocery sales translates into a slight increase of 0.7%. Sales of consumer goods increased by 2.2% and were approximately €288 million this year.

In other business areas, sales volumes varied in different ways. The sales volume of the ABC chain in the first months of 2014 was €400 million, a decrease of 3.8% in comparison to 2013. Sales in the travel industry and hospitality business were about €185 million. The decrease compared to the previous year was 0.4%.

Some S Group cooperatives engage in vehicle and vehicle accessories trade and agricultural trade. SOK gave up its vehicle trade in 2013 through the divestment of six Automaa stores to Veljekset Laakkonen. The sales volume of the 21 vehicle shops of the cooperatives increased by 9%, achieving about €80 million. The sales volume of agricultural trade, operating in the respective regions of three cooperatives, decreased by 19.2%, standing at about €29 million.

For additional information, please contact:Taavi Heikkilä, CEO, SOK, tel. +358 (0)10 76 80200Jari Annala, Executive Vice President, CFO, SOK Finance and Administration, tel. +358 (0)10 76 82040