The first Budget Sport store in the world to open in Vantaa in May

11.4.2006, Kesko Sports will open the world’s first Budget Sport store with the focus on price leadership in cooperation with Intersport International Corporation (IIC) in Tammisto, Vantaa at the beginning of May. The store to be opened will be the largest sports store in the Greater Helsinki area both in terms of area and sales.

The business idea of Budget Sport is to offer customers a wide range of high-quality sports equipment and clothing at low prices. The selections of the store will consist of the best brands available in the sector. Particularly for outdoor sports, Budget Sport will offer the largest selection in the area, including guns and ammunition.

The Budget Sport store in Tammisto is the pilot concept of Intersport International. The total investment in the construction was approximately EUR 10 million. In the next few years, Kesko Sports plans to build 6-7 Budget Sport stores throughout Finland, while Intersport International plans to launch a chain of Budget Sport stores in various parts of Europe.

The first Budget Sport outlet has a staff of nearly 50 people, selected from among over 600 applicants. Tammisto in Vantaa is a key location for this type of a sports store, as many international price-driven speciality store concepts operate there.

The press conference related to the opening of the Tammisto store will be arranged on Monday, 24 April 2006 at 13-15 hours in the premises of Budget Sport, at Sähkötie 14, 01510 Vantaa, Finland. Among those present will be Franz Julen, CEO of Intersport International from Switzerland, President Matti Laamanen of Keswell, and Vice President Jussi Mikkola of Kesko Sports. Please send your registration by email to harri.utoslahti@kesko.fi.

More information about Budget Sport will also be available in Finnish on the Internet at www.budgetsport.fi starting from 26 April. Photos of Budget Sport are available at www.kesko.fi/material.

Further information available from:
Vice President Jussi Mikkola, Kesko Sports, tel. +358 1053 40940 or +358 400 703 002
Managing Director Juha Nurminen, Interwell Oy, tel. +358 1053 40950 or +358 50 525 3847

IIC - Intersport International Corporation is an international sports marketing chain that consists of national companies and was established in 1968. The headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland. There are nearly 5,000 Intersport stores in 31 countries. Keswell Ltd of Kesko Group is a partner of the Corporation and holder of the Intersport and Budget Sport licences in Finland.

Kesko is the most versatile provider of trading sector services in the Baltic Sea area. In close cooperation with retailer entrepreneurs and other partners Kesko produces retail and wholesale services that are highly valued by customers. Kesko operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Northwest Russia.

Contact Information

Harri Utoslahti

Communications Manager

Kesko

Contact via E-mail