Kesko Oyj (HEL:KESAV) Minister Of Housing Jan Vapaavuori: Increased Appreciation Of Local Services Is A Sign Of The Possibility Of Change

Kesko Oyj (HEL:KESAV) KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 19.01.2009 AT 15.00 1(1)

An audience of nearly 600 key people representing trade and industry, major authorities and business leaders participated today on the 12th Day of Commerce at Katajanokka, Helsinki. The seminar, organised by Kesko, focused on changes that have taken place in services and the service industry.

Minister of Housing Jan Vapaavuori discussed the role of retail services in community planning. He said that retail stores returning to city centres and the growing appreciation of local services are signs of the possibility of change.

"This emerging development can be encouraged, but community planners and trade operators will have to find new and innovative solutions together," says Vapaavuori.

Customer's time

The Day of Commerce was opened by Kesko's President and CEO Matti Halmesmäki, who discussed, among other things, electronic customer communication, with focus on the components of a high-quality service experience for the customer. Customers increasingly appreciate individuality, health awareness, home orientation and family, ethical values and responsibility for the environment.

The other speakers at the seminar were Deputy Managing Director Timo Kietäväinen of The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, philosopher, D.Soc.Sc. Maija-Riitta Ollila, Advisor to the Chairman IBM Europe, Middle-East and Africa Richard Straub, and President of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, Mikko Kosonen.

Presentation material is available at www.kesko.fi/Material > Presentations.

Further information: Paavo Moilanen, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Responsibility, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22764
Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a retail specialist whose stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus.

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Kesko Oyj

http://www.kesko.fi

ISIN: FI0009007900

Stock Identifier: XHEL.KESAV