Axfood — Earnings Release 2009

Mar 5, 2009

Axfood's sales February 2009

Consolidated net sales (excluding VAT) totalled SEK 2,423 m (2,451), a 1.1% decrease compared with the same period a year ago. Net sales for stores in Sweden owned by the Group decreased by 0.3% for the month of February, with a 3.6% decrease in like-for-like sales. Sales in Axfood's stores (wholly owned and franchise units) decreased by 0.7% with a 3.6% decrease in like-for-like sales.

Sales for the period January-February 2009 in wholly owned stores rose by 4.9%, with a 0.2% decrease in like-for-like sales. Consolidated net sales totalled SEK 4,985 m (4,835), an increase of 3.1%. Net sales for Axfood's stores (wholly owned and franchise units) rose 4.3%, with a 0.2% decrease in like-for-like sales.

Hemköp's sales (wholly owned and franchise units) decreased by 5.5 % during the month, with a 6.2% decrease in like-for-like sales. Accumulated sales decreased by 2.5%, with a 3.4% decrease in like-for-like sales.

Net sales for Hemköp's wholly owned stores decreased by 7.1% during the month, with a 8.0% decrease in like-for-like sales. Accumulated sales decreased by 4.6%, with a 5.4% decrease in likefor-like sales.

Willys' sales rose by 2.0% during the month, with a 2.5% decrease in like-for-like sales. Accumulated sales rose by 5.7% with a 1.4% rise in like-for-like sales.

PrisXtra's net sales rose by 3.4% with a 11.5% decrease in like-for-like.

Sales per business operation are broken down as follows:

	Jan-Feb 2009 SEK m	Jan-Feb 2008 SEK m	Change
Hemköp	888	929	-4.4%
Willys	2,725	2,577	5.7%
PrisXtra	126	58	-
Dagab 1)	3,662	3,601	1.7%
Axfood Närlivs 2)	799	830	-3.7%
Other 3)	442	281	57.3%
Internal sales 4)	-3,657	-3,441	6.3%
Total	4,985	4,835	3.1%
Of which distributed sales
1) Dagab	2,443	2,392	2.1%
2) Närlivs	669	680	-1.6%

3) Includes support companies and joint-Group functions.

4) Of which Dagab SEK 3,236 m (3,183 m).

The figures are preliminary, definite figures will be presented at www.axfood.se under Financial info. Preliminary sales figures will be presented on the following date: 17/4 (Q1), 7/5, 4/6, 16/7 (Q2), 6/8, 4/9, 21/10 (Q3), 5/11, 4/12.

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.