Axfood's sales January-February 2003

Axfood's sales January-February 2003 For stores in Sweden owned by the Group, the increase was 14.5% for the month of February, of which same stores accounted for 4.2%. Consolidated net sales* for the month totalled SEK 2,538 m (2,491), an increase of 1.9% compared with the same period a year ago. Under the period January-February 2003 the increase was 13.9% for stores in Sweden owned by the group, of which same stores accounted for 4.5%. Consolidated net sales totalled SEK 5,240 m (5,106), an increase of 2.6% Of total sales, the Swedish operations accounted for SEK 4,444 m (4,282) and Spar Finland for SEK 796 m (824). Hemköp's sales fell by 4.4% during the month, of which same stores increased by 1.4%. Accumulated sales decreased by 4.7%, of which same stores increased by 1.8% Willys grew its sales by 29.5% during the month, of which same stores increased by 4.4%. Accumulated sales increased by 28.3%, of which same stores increased by 4.6%. Willys Hemma grew its sales by 20.4% during the month, of which same stores decreased by 7.8%. Accumulated sales increased by 24.5%, of which same stores decreased by 7.3% Spar Finland's sales fell by 4.6% and in local currency a decrease by 4.2%. Accumulated sales fell by 3.4%, and in local currency a decrease by 2.9%. For stores owned by the Group the decrease (in local currency) was 5.9%, of which same stores decreased by 6.5%. For stores owned by the Group accumulated sales in local currency decreased by 3.0% of which same stores decreased by 4.0%. Sales per business operation are broken down as follows: Jan-Feb Jan-Feb Change 2003 2002 SEK m. SEK m. % Hemköp 988 1,037 -4.7% Willys 1,571 1,224 28.3% Willys Hemma 203 163 24.5% Spar Finland 796 824 -3.4% Dagab 1) 2,866 2,672 7.3% Axfood Närlivs 713 687 3.8% Other 2) 355 322 10.2% Internal sales 3) -2,252 -1,823 23.5% Total 5,240 5,106 2.6% 1) Of which direct distribution SEK 713 m (504). 2) Includes Axfood Franchise, Axfood Private Label, support companies and joint-Group functions. 3) Of which Dagab SEK 1,981 m (1,606). * The figures are preliminary, definite figures will currently be presented at www.axfood.se under Financial Information. Preliminary sales figures will be presented on the following dates: March 23/4 (quarterly report), April 6/5, May 4/6, June 23/7 (interim report), July 5/8, August 3/9, Sept 22/10 (quarterly report), Oct 5/11, Nov 3/12 For further information, please contact: Lars Nilsson, Executive Vice President and CFO, tel. +46-8-553 998 11, +46-70-569 66 33 Bodil Eriksson, Executive Vice President, Corporate Comms, tel. +46-8-553 998 17, +46-70-629 66 34 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/03/05/20030305BIT00850/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/03/05/20030305BIT00850/wkr0002.pdf