Interim Report, Axfood AB (publ.) 1 January-31 March 2004

Interim Report, Axfood AB (publ.) 1 January-31 March 2004 Axfood's consolidated sales during the first quarter of 2004 amounted to SEK 8,168 m (7,956), an increase of 2.7%. Retail sales for Axfood's wholly owned stores in Sweden rose 9.0%, with same-store sales rising 5.0%. Retail sales for wholly owned stores in Spar Finland rose 7.2% during the period, with a 0.5% drop in same-store sales. Operating profit for the period January-March was SEK 181 m (206). Profit after tax was SEK 117 m (128). Earnings per share were SEK 2.19 (2.41). The forecast that 2004 profit, excluding items affecting comparability, will improve compared with the outcome for 2003, remains unchanged. Axfood AB is a retail food group comprising the wholly owned store chains Hemköp, Willys and Willys hemma and wholesale operations through Dagab and Axfood Närlivs. Additionally, Axfood works with a large number of independent merchants who are tied to Axfood by franchising or other agreements. In all the Group comprises some 500 stores in Sweden, of which about 220 are wholly or partly owned. Consolidated annual sales are approximately SEK 33 billion, with approximately 8,600 employees. Axfood has approximately 290 stores in Finland, of which 80 are wholly owned and the remainder are operated by independent merchants. Axfood has a market share of 18% in Sweden and approximately 8% in Finland, making it one of the largest, listed retail food groups in the Nordic region. The company is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange 0-List, Attract 40. Axel Johnson AB is the principal owner with approximately 45% of the shares. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/04/22/20040422BIT20670/wkr0009.pdf The entire report