Axfood's sales January-March 2003

Axfood's sales January-March 2003 Net sales* (excluding VAT) for stores in Sweden owned by the Group, increased by 7.1% for the month of March, of which same stores decreased by 3.3%. Consolidated net sales for March totalled SEK 2,729 m (2,884), a decrease by 5.4% compared with the same period a year ago. Adjusted for Easter sales, which in 2002 were recorded in March, the increase for the month was 0.9% Under the period January-March 2003 the increase was 11.4% for stores in Sweden owned by the group, of which same stores accounted for 1.7%. Consolidated net sales totalled SEK 7,956 m (7,990), a decrease of 0.4%. Adjusted for Easter sales, which in 2002 were recorded in March, the increase for the period was 1.9%.Of total sales, the Swedish operations accounted for SEK 6,743 m (6,690) and Spar Finland for SEK 1,213 m (1,300). Hemköp's sales fell by 10.4% during the month, of which same stores decreased by 6.0%. Accumulated sales decreased by 6.7%, of which same stores decreased by 1.0% Willys grew its sales by 18.6% during the month, of which same stores decreased by 3.4%. Accumulated sales increased by 24.7%, of which same stores increased by 1.7%. Willys hemma grew its sales by 25.8% during the month, of which same stores decreased by 3.4%. Accumulated sales increased by 25.4%, of which same stores decreased by 6.0% Spar Finland's sales fell by 10.5% and in local currency a decrease by 11.7%. Accumulated sales fell by 6.7%, and in local currency a decrease by 6.9%. For stores owned by the Group the decrease (in local currency) was 13.0%, of which same stores decreased by 12.9%. For stores owned by the Group accumulated sales in local currency decreased by 6.8% of which same stores decreased by 7.3%. Sales per business operation are broken down as follows: Jan-March Jan-March Change 2003 2002 SEK m. SEK m. % Hemköp 1,499 1,607 -6.7% Willys 2,417 1,938 24.7% Willys hemma 316 252 25.4% Spar Finland 1,213 1,300 -6.7% Dagab 1) 4,319 4,153 4.0% Axfood Närlivs 1,073 1,075 -0.2% Other 2) 539 494 9.0% Internal sales 3) -3,420 -2,829 20.9% Total 7,956 7,990 -0.4% 1) Of which direct distribution SEK 1,080 m (793). 2) Includes Spar Sverige AB, Axfood Private Label, support companies and joint-Group functions. 3) Of which Dagab SEK 2,997 m (2,496). * 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: 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/2003/04/23/20030423BIT01260/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/04/23/20030423BIT01260/wkr0002.pdf