Rautakesko opens the eighth K-rauta in Estonia in Kuressaare

28 augustus 2008 RAUTAKESKO LTD PRESS RELEASE 28.08.2008 AT 10.00 1(1) AS Rautakesko, the largest building and home improvement supplies retailer in Estonia, opened the country's eighth K-rauta in Kuressaare today. The Kuressaare store provided 35 new jobs to the town which were filled with inhabitants of the region. The store received over 300 job applications. The total area of the store, located in the Auriga centre, is 4,875 m², of which 3,050 m² are indoors while the rest 1,825 m² form a covered outdoor sales area for building materials. The selection consists of nearly 22,000 different building, interior decoration and gardening products. According to Alo Ivask, Managing Director of Rautakesko AS, the new store will further strengthen the position of K-rauta as the leading retailer of building and home improvement supplies in Estonia. "We want to be the number one alternative for Saaremaa people, for consumers and business customers alike," says Ivask. Rautakesko AS, part of the Kesko Group, is the leading building and home improvement retailer in Estonia. The company has eight stores there, including the store now opened. Rautakesko AS has over 500 employees in Estonia. The net sales of the company totalled ¤92 million in 2007. In the 2007 study on building, renovation and real estate by research agency Faktum & Ariko, Rautakesko was ranked as the best service provider among the building and home improvement retailers in Estonia. The study covered eight largest building and home improvement store chains in Estonia. Photos of the store can be loaded at http://aineistopankki.kesko.fi/kesko_en Further information: Managing Director Alo Ivask, Rautakesko AS, tel. +372 50 11 564 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.