Rautakirja was merged into SanomaWSOY on 1 March 2003, after which Rautakirja shares were delisted from the Helsinki Exchanges. Rautakirja continues its operations as before, as an independent division within the Group.
Rautakirja has kiosk operations in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, and Latvia. In Finland, there are 713 R-Kiosks and 35 Veikkausrasti outlets specialising in gaming products. R-kiosks form one of Finland’s leading chains of convenience outlets. There are 199 R-kiosks in Estonia and 431 kiosks in Latvia, jointly owned with a Norwegian company.
Operations in the Czech Republic were launched in the beginning of 2003 in collaboration with French-based Hachette Distribution Services SA. The first year of operation saw the establishment of 137 kiosks.
The wholesale and retail business became more competitive in 2003 due to both domestic and international activities. Rautakirja met the challenge by systematically developing its versatile range, one that differs from those offered by other wholesale and retail business.
In 2004, kiosk operations are set to forcefully develop their systems. The whole business concept will be refined and the service range expanded.
Lehtipiste operates in Estonia, Finland, and Latvia as a marketing and newsstand distribution organisation of newspapers and magazines. Lehtipiste offers an interesting product range and has extensive expertise in distribution and promotion.
2003 was a successful year for newsstand sales, thanks to the launch of several new general interest magazines. Sales of tabloids declined slightly. In Estonia and Latvia, operations were developed further and market positions were strengthened.
The prospects are good for all three countries, due both to publishers’ efforts and Lehtipiste’s own development work.
Suomalainen Kirjakauppa is a nationwide bookstore chain and the market leader in its field in Finland, with 59 Suomalainen Kirjakauppa outlets and four Yliopistokirjakauppa bookstores, two Reader’s paperback bookstores, and the Lukiolaisten Kirjakauppa bookstore. In addition, the company has a strong direct sales unit and online webstores that support all sales channels. In Estonia, the company operates three Apollo bookstores.
2003 was a good year for book sales, especially for the sales of non-fiction and fiction. Finnish and foreign fiction, as well as children’s and juvenile books, sold well. The market position of Suomalainen Kirjakauppa was strengthened by the acquisition of both the Lukiolaisten Kirjakauppa business and the Academic Bookstore’s press subscription operations. The look and operations of stores were developed during the year in line with a new concept.
In 2004, Suomalainen Kirjakauppa will seek growth by enhancing the efficiency of its operations and investing in portfolio management and further developing its chain concept.
Finnkino specialises in movie theatre operations and film distribution activities, and has operations in Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.
Finnkino opened two new multiplex movie theatres in Lithuania in 2003, one in Latvia, and one in Finland. The construction of another multiplex was started in Oulu. Finnkino’s Kinolippu and Lippupalvelu ticket services began collaboration in the summer. In Finland, the number of movie theatre visits were on the same level as in previous year. Finnish movies had a good year.
Finnkino’s new multiplex movie theatres will strengthen Finnkino’s position as the market leader in all the countries where it operates, and the chain will continue its expansion by establishing new units.
Rautakirja’s restaurant operations consist of two business lines in Finland: highway service areas and Pizza Hut restaurants. Eurostrada’s Motorest chain has been expanded over the last few years, as agreed with Neste Marketing.