The improvement of efficiency is based on the need to make the chain management more cost-effective and to increase the extent of synergies between functions.

"Our goal is that our department store and speciality store trade is profitable, competitive and attractive to customers. S Group will have strong commitment to the department store and speciality store trade also in the future", says Arttu Laine, Executive Vice President at SOK.

In the department store and speciality store trade, S Group has a particular focus on fashion, beauty and interior design.

"At SOK and throughout the S Group, we have worked to develop the department store and speciality store trade according to the competition strategy outlined in 2014 for consumer goods sales. Despite the fact that the general financial situation is challenging, we have resumed an upward trend. However, we need to implement further measures at SOK to achieve our targets in the department store and speciality store trade. We will improve our operational efficiency in many ways, but, unfortunately, the action will also affect staff", says Laine.

The statutory labour negotiations concerned all employees in SOK Department Store and Speciality Store Chain Management. The original estimated maximum number of those let go was 25. The negotiations did not concern other operations of SOK or SOK Corporation, such as Chain Management for SOK Marks & Spencer, SOK Food and Consumer Goods, S-Verkkopalvelut Ltd or Inex Partners Ltd.

The negotiations will not affect the employees of the regional cooperatives or the services provided for co-op members.