Market and competitors

Despite the weak economy in 2009, volume growth increased in the Swedish food retail market. Sales measured in current prices rose 4.8% for the year. The increase in grocery prices during the first half of the year was mainly attributable to the periodically weak Swedish currency. However, the rate of inflation subsided during the second half.
The price and calendar effect for the food retail market was 2.8%, entailing that sales volume in the food retail market rose 1.9%.

In contrast to many other countries in the Western world, where the store trend is towards a compact metropolitan format, in Sweden volume is mainly in the discount and hypermarket segments.