In January–June, the retail sales (excluding taxes) of S Group’s supermarket trade totalled EUR 5,326.1 million. Compared with the corresponding period in the previous year, sales grew by 2.1 per cent.

– The good development of our supermarket trade shows that we’ve managed to offer an affordable and broad selection that is appreciated by consumers. Our sales were also high during the public holidays of Easter and Midsummer. We estimate that our grocery sales continued to grow faster than the rest of the market in the first half of the year, says Hannu Krook, CEO SOK.

The cool start of summer was reflected in the consumers’ shopping basket. The demand for drinks and ice cream was lower than in the previous year, while the demand for cooking-related products and vegetables, for example, increased. In the consumer goods trade, the HD transition boosted the sales of TVs at Prisma stores. Online sales continued on a strong growth curve in both Prisma.fi and the online S-kaupat grocery store.

Sales of specialty stores were boosted by campaigns in the first year-half

The sales of S Group’s specialty stores in January–June totalled EUR 120.5 million with a decrease of 3.3 per cent from the previous year. Demand was high, especially in the Sokos.fi online store, and campaigns remained attractive. For example, the 3+1 Days campaign in April and the co-op member events in May were successful. Recent cooperation with the Swedish department store chain Åhlens brought new interesting brands to consumers at the beginning of the summer.

In the service station store and fuel sales trade, the strongest development was seen in electric charging and car washes

S Group’s service station stores and fuel sales in January–June amounted to EUR 949.5 million. Sales in euros decreased by 5.9 per cent from the previous year because of a fall in world market prices for fuels. The services of ABC service stations were popular in the first half of the year. Sales grew particularly strongly in electric charging and car washes, whose sales were boosted by the varying weather conditions in the spring. ABC’s varied buffet also grew in popularity among road users.

Travel industry and hospitality business had a busier January–June period than in the previous year

The sales of S Group’s travel industry and hospitality business in January–June totalled EUR 389.5 million, an increase of 1.8 per cent from the previous year. Demand strengthened in the first year-half in both hotels and restaurants, and the summer season also started well.

– After some difficult years, the travel industry trade is gradually returning to the pre-Covid level. However, regional differences are large. The attraction of Lapland and the north is strong, but a lot more international tourists are needed especially in the Helsinki metropolitan area,” Hannu Krook says.

The retail sales before taxes of regional cooperative enterprises, SOK and their subsidiaries 1–6/2025

Supermarket trade includes S-Group’s grocery trade and Prisma’s consumer goods trade.

*The figure includes sales in Estonia.

**The previous name of the business area was department stores and specialty goods sales.