Kesko Oyj (HEL:KESAV) Rautakesko Opens Its 9th K-rauta Store In St. Petersburg

Kesko Oyj (HEL:KESAV) RAUTAKESKO LTD PRESS RELEASE 28.11.2008 AT 10.30 1(1)

Rautakesko opens the ninth K-rauta in St. Petersburg in the fast-developing Krasnoselskiy district at Petergofskoen Soccee tomorrow, 29 November 2008.

The total area of the new store is 16,500 m², of which the indoor sales area accounts for 8,500 m² and the outdoor sales area for building materials for 8,000 m². The selection of goods consists of more than 45,000 different builders' supplies, interior decoration items and gardening products. The interior design solutions on display help customers choose decoration elements and materials of their own style.

The new K-rauta offers a wide variety of services for its customers, including interior design free of charge, paint mix, saw cut and home delivery on the day of purchase.

"Using Rautakesko's European experience and our own chain concept, we aim to provide our customers in all K-rauta stores in St. Petersburg with the same variety of high-quality goods and offers," says Aleksandr Rudenko, Managing Director of ZAO Stroymaster.

Like every store of the K-rauta chain in St. Petersburg, the new outlet operates a multilevel discount programme and offers a special discount for new home-owners. The company also pays special attention to wholesale customers. In St. Petersburg, K-rauta has a unique, flexible programme for loyal customers and popular special services, such as delivery by phone request and transit delivery from supplier to customer free of charge.

"Rautakesko is systematically implementing its business development plan in Russia. The experiences gained in St. Petersburg create a good basis for the development of the K-rauta chain in other parts of Russia. We aim to open our first store outside St. Petersburg in early 2009," says Mikko Pasanen, Rautakesko's Country Director for Russia.

Photos of the store can be downloaded at http://aineistopankki.kesko.fi/kesko_en

Further information: Country Director Mikko Pasanen, Rautakesko Ltd, tel. +358 40 743 6665 Managing Director Aleksander Rudenko, ZAO Stroymaster, tel. + 7 812 326 92 31 (in Russian)

K-rauta stores (www.k-rauta.com) meet the customer demand for safe ideas and solutions for building and living. K-rauta stores operate in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and Russia.

Rautakesko (www.rautakesko.com) is engaged in the building and home improvement trade through the K-rauta, Rautia, Byggmakker and Senukai retail chains. Rautakesko manages its chains, combines their purchasing power, arranges efficient logistics, acquires store sites and guarantees strong marketing and development support to the stores. Rautakesko operates in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus.

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Kesko Oyj

http://www.kesko.fi

ISIN: FI0009007900

Stock Identifier: XHEL.KESAV