2013-02-08 14:08:15 -

KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 08.02.2013 AT 15.00 1(1)

Kesko and K-stores will take active part in the social guarantee for young
people initiative, with a view to promoting employment and preventing social
exclusion among young people. There are around 1,300 K-stores in Finland, and
the objective is to employ as many young people at risk of marginalisation as
possible.

"Kesko and K-retailers will participate in this important initiative with
enthusiasm and an active attitude. The K-Group is one of the biggest employers
in Finland, retail store jobs are very suitable for young people and a K-store
is the first place of work for many of them. The initiative is also extremely
suitable for our responsibility programme. We take an open-minded approach when
looking for new means to pave the way of   young people to employment," says
President and CEO Matti Halmesmäki.

Kesko will implement the initiative in cooperation with the authorities and the
K-Retailers' Association and other organisations. A tailored programme will be
built for the K-Group to employ young people in K-stores and Kesko. Kesko's
Board of Directors granted 100,000 euros for the start up of the programme.

The youth guarantee, which entered into force at the beginning of 2013,
guarantees that each person under 25 years of age, and recent graduates under
30 years of age, will be offered work, a work trial, or a study, workshop or
labour market rehabilitation place within three months of registering as an
unemployed jobseeker. The youth guarantee also includes an educational
guarantee, which guarantees a study place for each young person finishing basic
education.

Kesko and K-retailers form the K-Group, whose retail sales totalled €12 billion
in 2012. The K-Group employs around 45,000 people.

Further information:
Matti Mettälä, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations,
Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 10 53 22200
Merja Haverinen, Vice President, Communications, Kesko Corporation, tel.
+358 10 53 22764

Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in
the World. We are a retail specialist whose chains have about 2,000 stores in
the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus. Our stores offer quality
to the daily lives of consumers.





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Source: Kesko Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE
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