"Our grocery sales in Finland continue to grow faster than the general market development in the field. In addition, I am particularly satisfied with our strong growth that has continued throughout the year in the ABC chain and the Sokos department stores", says Taavi Heikkilä, CEO of SOK.

Lowering prices, which was continued at the beginning of the year and at the end of August, supported the fine development of S Group's grocery sales in Finland. Sales increased by 2.0 per cent, totalling EUR 5,147 million.

S Group has also succeeded well in consumer goods trade, compared with the market segment in general. The cold and rainy summer had an impact on the general development in the sector. The sales of S Group's hardware trade were further impacted by the decrease in sales area in square metres.

Heikkilä expects the sales of the group to continue the positive development during the remaining part of the year.

"We estimate that our Christmas sales will be higher than last year." 

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

Business area

Sales (EUR million, entire S Group)

Change in comparison to Jan–Sep 2016 (%)

Supermarket trade*

5,801

+1.6

Service station store and fuel sales

1,233

+6.6

Travel industry and hospitality business*

598

+1.7

Department stores and speciality stores

212

+1.2

Hardware trade

141

-10.2

Others

357

+9.4

S-Group total

8,342

+2.4

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