In addition to the good Christmas sales, there was growth in sales across the board for the whole year.

"Our sales developed in fine balance in our different businesses throughout the year. In addition to department store trade and supermarket trade, there was particular growth at ABC stations and our hotels", says Taavi Heikkilä, CEO of SOK.

S Group's grocery trade in Finland increased by 2.1 per cent, to EUR 6,920 million. The growth has continued to outperform the general market development in the field at both large supermarkets and small stores.

"We will continue to ensure the price competitiveness of our grocery trade and to increase our high-quality product range. The Stockmann Delicatessen stores, which were transferred to some of our cooperatives at the turn of the year, have been well received", Heikkilä says. 

S Group's retail sales excluding taxes, Jan–Dec 2017

Business area

Sales (EUR million, entire S Group)

Change in comparison to Jan–Dec 2016 (%)

Supermarket trade*

7,870.0

1,5

Service station store and fuel sales

1,632.7

5,8

Travel industry and hospitality business*

810.8

2,2

Department stores and speciality stores

310.0

3,2

Hardware trade

176.8

-11,3

Others

473.1

9,7

S-Group total

11 273.4

2,3

 * The figure includes sales in the Baltic countries and Russia.

S Group's result for 2017 will be announced on February 9th, 2018.

More information:Taavi Heikkilä, CEO, SOK, tel. +358 (0)10 76 80200Jari Annala, Senior Vice President, CFO, SOK Finance and Administration, tel. +358 10 76 82040