Supermarket trade excluding taxes amounted to EUR 5,073.5 million. Compared to the first half of last year, sales grew by 9.4 per cent. In May–June, the groceries were boosted by warmer weather, which increased the sales of drinks and ice cream, among other things. The sales of S Group’s food service company, Meira Nova Oy, also grew faster than the market in the first half of the year.  

“According to our estimate, S Group’s groceries trade in Finland grew faster than the market in the first half of the year in both brick-and-mortar shops and online. This positive development is the result of increasingly price-conscious consumers, our competitive ability, and our upgraded and competitive shop network,” says Hannu Krook, CEO of SOK. 

Hotels and restaurants strong in the first half of the year, EV charging sales more than quintuple 

S Group’s travel and hospitality business trade grew by nearly 24 per cent in January–June compared to the previous year, reaching a total of EUR 383.1 million. Covid restrictions still weighed heavily on the industry in 2022, especially in January–June. Overall, the sales of hotels and restaurants in the first half of the year almost reached the pre-Covid level of 2019. 

“We have made long-term investments in our hotel and restaurant network all over Finland, and our customers have welcomed the upgrades. Fast food in particular has become more popular, and various work-related events have been in high demand. Likewise, domestic travel saw healthy demand in the first half of the year, even though reservations are considered very carefully due to the economic situation. Finland is also an interesting destination for foreign tourists,” says Hannu Krook. 

S Group’s service station shop and fuel sales in the first half of the year amounted to EUR 1,040.1 million. Sales decreased by 5.3 per cent compared to the previous year. This development is due to the current year’s lower fuel prices on the world market. The sales of ABC service stations’ restaurants and other services grew in January–June thanks to increased road traffic and the revival of public events. Car wash sales were also in demand in the first half of the year. Electric charging sales grew more than fivefold year on year thanks to the growing ABC charging station network and the increasing number of electric vehicles on the road. 

S Group’s department store and speciality goods sales reached EUR 122.3 million in January–June, growing 6.1 per cent year on year. 

S Group’s retail sales excluding taxes, Jan–Jun 2023

Percentage changes from 2019, the time before the coronavirus crisis, are included for comparability.

Supermarket trade include S-Group’s retail trade, Prisma’s consumer goods trade and hardware trade.

*The figure includes sales in the Baltic countries and Russia. Business in Russia has ended. Prisma and hotel business operations in Saint Petersburg were sold in June 2022.

S Group’s and SOK Corporation’s interim reports will be published on Tuesday 29/08/2023. The sales for the entire summer and sales development will be reported at the same time.