'Tactics for Better Stops' - Kesko and Neste to update their joint service station network

KESKO PRESS RELEASE 29.03.2016 AT 12.00 1(2)

Kesko and Neste are leading Finnish service stations into a new era. The new Neste K service station concept has been built on the basis of customer feedback, resulting in a cosy milieu, a menu designed by a top chef, restrooms updated by an interior designer and high quality services for motorists. New Neste K service stations provide a comprehensive service experience, in line with the 'Tactics for Better Stops'.

"The refurbishment of Neste K service stations is part of Kesko's neighbourhood market strategy - we want to offer our customers high quality and personalised services quickly and easily. Motorists often stop at service stations only when they need to. In line with Neste K's Tactics for Better Stops, we want to provide our customers with such a good service that all the people on the road will find Neste K a choice they cannot pass by without stopping. The change involves a new kind of service culture, which puts the customer and quality in the centre of all activities," says Jorma Rauhala, Senior Vice President for Kesko's grocery trade.

"The new Neste K station concept will further deepen our cooperation with Kesko. We are pleased to see that we share the aim of providing joy to customers on the move. Our own station network is very important for us, as it enables us to offer our customers high quality fuels, refined in Finland, as well as other products and services needed by motorists. We absolutely want to be profiled at the top of the stations in customer encounters and our service and product offering," says Antti Tiitola, Executive Vice President for oil retail business area at Neste.

Neste K service stations will not be copies of each other but every station will have its special needs and opportunities depending on location and clientele.

"We want to give retailer entrepreneurs at Neste K service stations a chance to voice their own views - making each Neste K different and unique. Retailers know their customers and can tailor the station's services and selections of food and groceries to meet their needs," says Rauhala.

Tasty food and versatile services in pleasant premises

The aim of Neste K stations is to deliver a superior food experience to customers on the road. The stations will offer customers varied and high quality food, either consumed on site or taken away. The menu choices of the service stations have been designed by Pekka Terävä, an awarded top chef. Coffee lovers will be treated with an array of special coffees.

Neste K service stations range from compact 100 square metre city stations to nearly 2,000 square metre stations for long distance motorists. The leading idea in the design and use of space is to provide an ecological, cosy and functional ambience. The restrooms of Neste K service stations will be clean and pleasant. The premises designed by the interior design company dSign Vertti Kivi & Co make use of moving image and voice, for example.

Neste K service stations will provide their customers with tidy and modern refuelling yards and high quality additional services, such as free wifi in the restaurant, the Osta&Nosta cash withdrawal at checkouts service, a recharging point for electric cars, and the QuickWash car wash services based on the latest technology.

The first new Neste K station opened its doors at Teiskontie road in Tampere on 22 March 2016, and all the current 70 joint stations of Neste and Kesko are due to be changed and refurbished to become Neste K service stations by the end of 2017. The aim is to build a network of close to 100 Neste K stations. The total capital expenditure will be tens of millions of euros.

Further information:
Jorma Rauhala, Senior Vice President, grocery trade, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 10 5322 211
Mikko Paukkonen, Vice President, Neste K service station concept, Kesko Corporation, tel. +358 50 567 9761
Antti Tiitola, Executive Vice President, oil retail business area, Neste Corporation, tel. +358 10 458 4273

K-Group

The about 40,000 exceptionally nice people of the K-Group work daily to make shopping fun for customers in our stores in the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries and Russia. We help our more than 1,500 stores serve their customers in the grocery trade, the home improvement and speciality goods trade, and the car trade. We do our work with big heart while paying attention to society and the environment. We are already the most responsible food retailer in the world and are constantly trying out something new. We are doing this to provide good choices both on the shelves of the local stores and online. www.kesko.fi

Neste
Neste is a pioneer in oil refining and renewable solutions. We provide our customers with premium-quality products for cleaner traffic and industrial products based on world-class research. We are the world's leading producer of renewable diesel, and our annual production capacity is more than 2 million tons. We also are the world's largest company providing renewable fuel from waste and residues. Our sustainable operations have received recognition in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Global 100 list of the world's most sustainable companies, among others. Our net sales for 2015 amounted to approximately EUR 11 billion, and our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Cleaner traffic, energy and life are moved forward by about 5,000 professionals. More information: neste.com/en