Kesko's K-trainee programme to include 18 young people from differentparts of Finland

KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 08.01.2008 AT 11.00 1(2) From among more than 700 applicants 18 were admitted to participate in the K-Group's second K-trainee recruitment and training programme. The young people selected to the programme started the training yesterday, 7 January, in an opening ceremony taking place at K-instituutti, in Siikajärvi, Espoo. The first K-trainees, who completed the programme last year, will celebrate their qualification at K-instituutti tomorrow, 9 January. This time among the applicants, 58% had a lower or higher university degree, or will soon graduate. 42% had a polytechnic degree, or will soon graduate. 60% of the applicants were women and 40% were men. 38% of the applicants came from the Uusimaa region and 62% from other parts of Finland. The total number of applicants was 707. Those young people who completed the K-trainee programme last year were not surprised at the great number of applicants to this year's programme. According to Jenna Sahiluoma, Anttila Product Manager, the best thing about the trainee year was diversity. "There were no two days the same. Practice and theory were in balance, and there was something to learn all the time. I'm really happy that I was able to participate. It was a magnificent experience, and everything I learnt in practice in a department store has proven invaluable in my current job as a product manager," says Jenna. Juha-Matti Luhtasaari of Rautakesko also started his K-trainee studies with an open mind willing to learn new things. "Last year was very interesting, but the excitement has only begun now that my job will take me to all parts of the country, with the Rautia chain's district managers as my most important stakeholder group," says Juha-Matti. Recent university graduates are selected to participate in the K-trainee programme to be trained for various managerial and specialist positions in the trading sector. Home and speciality goods, department stores and food trade received the most applications among Kesko's product lines. The K-trainee programme will provide those admitted with a good basis to proceed to managerial jobs in the trading sector, including international careers. An essential part of the one-year programme is training in a retail store, the purpose of which is to provide the participants with practical introduction to the work at the store level. The K-trainee programme also includes a comprehensive managerial training at K-instituutti, the K-Group's own training centre. Those admitted to the programme will also participate in various division and chain-specific trainings. Read more about the K-trainee programme at www.k-trainee.fi. The pages contain career stories and K-trainee blogs. The K-Group, that is Kesko and K-stores, has approximately 50,000 employees in all. The Kesko Group has 24,000 employees, of whom 14,000 in Finland and 10,000 abroad. The K-Group offers a wide selection of job opportunities that extends from basic duties to retailer entrepreneurship and to a wide range of specialist and managerial jobs in various fields. The K-Group's extent and diversified internal training provide good opportunities to develop at work and make career progress, including international duties. Photos of the K-trainees starting the programme can be downloaded from www.kesko.fi/Material. The attachment lists the new trainees and their training places. For the first year, they will train and work in the K-Group retail stores. Further information: Sari Kulmala, HR Manager, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 1053 22860 www.k-trainee.fi Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a Finnish retail specialist whose stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers through valued products and services at competitive prices. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in the Nordic and Baltic countries, and Russia. ATTACHMENT K-trainees in 2008 Name Training unit and locality Alha Heidi, M.Sc. (Econ.) Kesko Food, KM Pasaati, Helsinki Lagerström Liisa-Maija, M.Sc. (Food Sciences) Kesko Food, KSM Arabia, Helsinki Leppänen Suvi, M.Sc. (Econ.) (to graduate in 2008) Kesko Food, KCM, Kerava Poutanen Mikko, M.Sc. (Food Sciences) Kesko Food, KSM Kontumarket, (to graduate in 2008) Helsinki Jalava Hanna, M.Sc. (Econ.) K-citymarket Kaakkuri, Oulu Kuokkanen Kai, BBA K-citymarket, Kotka Kyyrö Mira, BBA K-citymarket, Lohja Laatio Saara, BBA K-citymarket Jumbo, Vantaa Siikaluoma Anna, BBA K-citymarket, Rovaniemi Torvela Maija, M.Sc. (Econ.) K-citymarket Lielahti, Tampere Palomäki Kaisa, M.A. Rautakesko K-rauta, Espoon Keskus Pere Olli, M.Sc. (Econ.) (to graduate in 2008) Rautakesko K-rauta 75, Vantaa Vilkuna Eero, M.Sc. (Econ.) Rautakesko K-rauta, Porvoo Berg Vivi, M.A. Kodin Ykkönen, Varisto, Vantaa Rhoades Anna, BBA Anttila and Kodin Ykkönen, Tampere Unhola Tiitus, M.Sc. (Econ.) (to graduate in 2008) VV-Vaihtoautokeskus, Helsinki Mikko Marttila, M.Sc. (Agr. & For.) (to graduate in 2008) K-maatalous, Tervajoki Mustonen Piritta, M.Sc. (Econ.) Intersport, Helsinki and Espoo