Kesko Corporation · Helsinki Finland ·(OMX Helsinki: KESBV)

You name it, Kesko sells it. The Finnish firm is big in importing, distributing, and wholesaling in its homeland and in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Its largest division Kesko Food (about 40% of sales) includes more than 1,050 of its own "K" food stores (operating in a variety of formats mostly in Finland and in the Baltic countries). Kesko also operates about 1,000 other retail outlets -- from department stores and home and specialty shops to stores selling hardware, builders' supplies, agriculture goods, and machinery. Kesko also is a wholesaler and imports vehicles made by Volkswagen and Audi through its VV-Auto division. Kesko sold its export/import firm Kauko-Telko to Aspo in April 2008. To read the full description, subscribe now.