Axfood — Earnings Release 2008

Apr 16, 2008

PRESS RELEASE April 16 2008

Axfood's sales March 2008

Consolidated net sales (excluding VAT) totalled SEK 2,660 m (2494), a rise of 6.7% compared with the same period a year ago. Net sales for stores in Sweden owned by the Group rose by 10.1% for the month of March, with a 6.2% rise in like-for-like sales.

Sales for the period January-March 2008 in wholly owned stores rose by 8.6%, with a 6.0% rise in like-for-like sales. Consolidated net sales totalled SEK 7,495 m (6,943), an increase of 8.0%. Net sales for Axfood's stores (wholly owned and franchise units) rose 8.1%, with a 5.7% rise in likefor-like sales.

Hemköp's sales (wholly owned and franchise units) increased by 1.8 % during the month, with a 0.1% rise in like-for-like sales. Accumulated sales increased by 3.4%, with a 0.8% rise in like-forlike sales.

Net sales for Hemköp's wholly owned stores increased by 0.2% during the month, with a 1.3% decrease in like-for-like sales. Accumulated sales increased by 0.9%, with a 1.2% decrease in likefor-like sales.

Willys' sales rose by 8.7% during the month, with a 8.7% rise in like-for-like sales. Accumulated sales rose by 8.2% with a 8.4% rise in like-for-like sales.

PrisXtra's net sales* totalled SEK 66 m (59), a rise of 8.5%. Like-for-like sales rose by 4.4%. Accumulated sales increased by 6.5%.

	Jan-March 2008 SEK m	Jan-March 2007 SEK m	Change
Hemköp	1,426	1,413	0.9%
Willys	4,009	3,705	8.2%
PrisXtra	124	0
Dagab 1)	5,505	5,058	8.8%
Axfood Närlivs 2)	1,256	1,202	4.5%
Övrigt 3)	428	261	64.0%
Internomsättning 4)	-5,253	-4,696	11.9%
Totalt	7,495	6,943	8.0%
varav distribuerad omsättning
1) Dagab	3,647	3,354	8.7%
2) Närlivs	1,017	985	3.2%

Sales per business operation are broken down as follows:

3) Includes support companies and joint-Group functions.

4) Of which Dagab SEK 4,865 m (4,477 m).

* PrisXtras sales will be consolidated by 1 February 2008 in the Axfood group.

Preliminary sales figures will be presented on the following date: 7/5 (April), 5/6 (May), 16/7 (June), 6/8 (July), 4/9 (Aug), 14/10 (Sept), 6/11 (Oct), 4/12 (Nov).

For further information, please contact: Anne Rhenman-Eklund, Head of Investor Relations Axfood AB, 070-280 64 59 Karin Hygrell-Jonsson, CFO Axfood AB, +46 70-662 69 70

Axfood AB conducts retail trade through the wholly owned store chains Hemköp, Willys, Willys hemma and PrisXtra, comprising slightly more than 220 stores, and wholesale trade through Dagab and Axfood Närlivs. In addition, Axfood collaborates with a number of proprietor-run stores that are tied to Axfood through agreements. These include stores within the Hemköp chain as well as stores run under the Handlar'n and Tempo profiles. In all, Axfood collaborates with over 500 proprietor-run stores. Axfood is listed on the Nordic Large Cap list of the OMX Nordic Exchange. Axel Johnson AB is the principal owner, with approximately 46% of the shares.