Interim Report, Axfood AB (publ.) 1 January-30 June 2004

Interim Report, Axfood AB (publ.) 1 January-30 June 2004 - Axfood's consolidated sales during the first half of 2004 amounted to SEK 16,846 m (16,500), an increase of 2.1%. Retail sales for Axfood's wholly owned stores in Sweden rose 8.7%, with same-store sales rising 5.1%. Retail sales for wholly owned stores in Spar Finland rose 7.3% during the period, with a 1.1% drop in same-store sales. - Operating profit for the period January-June was SEK 441 m (518). Operating profit for the second quarter was SEK 260 m (312). Operating profit for the second quarter of 2003 included a capital gain of SEK 110 m on the sale of real estate. - The operating margin excluding capital gains from sales of real estate increased during the second quarter from 2.4% to 3.0%. - Profit after tax for the period January-June was SEK 289 m (335). Earnings per share were SEK 5.40 (6.29). - The forecast that 2004 profit, excluding items affecting comparability, will improve compared with the outcome for 2003, remains unchanged. For further information, please contact: Mats Jansson, President and CEO, +46-8-553 998 10, mobile +46-70-569 48 11 Lars Nilsson, Executive Vice President and CFO, +46-8-553 998 11, mobile +46-70-569 66 33 Bodil Eriksson, Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, +46-8-553 998 17, mobile +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/2004/07/22/20040722BIT20340/wkr0001.pdf The full report