ICA and Apoteket plan cooperation

Solna, August 24, 2009

ICA and Apoteket, the Swedish state-owned pharmaceuticals retailer, are planning a future cooperation to add pharmacy services in large ICA stores. A shop-in-shop solution would enable these stores to sell both prescription and non-prescription medications. The new venture requires the approval of the Swedish Competition Authority.

"Now that the pharmacy market is opening up, it will create wealth of opportunities for our customers. All our stores will be able to offer non-prescription medications, and thanks to the cooperation with Apoteket our biggest ICA stores will be able to add a full- service pharmacy as well. Buying food, health products and medicines in one place is convenient and practical, and we know it is something our customers want," says Kenneth Bengtsson, President and CEO of ICA AB.

ICA and Apoteket are now continuing their planning for the cooperation and expect to present further details about the new concept later this year.

"My hope is that the first new pharmacies will be able to open as soon as the first quarter of 2010," says Kenneth Bengtsson.

For further information, please contact: ICA press hotline, phone +46 70 253 66 60 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About ICA The ICA Group (ICA AB) is one of the Nordic regions leading retail companies, with around 2,230 of its own and retailer-owned stores in Sweden, Norway and the Baltic states. The Group includes the retail companies ICA Sverige, ICA Norge and Rimi Baltic. ICA also offers financial services to Swedish customers through ICA Banken. ICA AB is a joint venture 40% owned by Hakon Invest AB and 60% by Royal Ahold N.V. of the Netherlands. According to a shareholder agreement, Royal Ahold and Hakon Invest jointly share a controlling influence over ICA AB. Through Royal Ahold, ICA AB is part of an international retail network. For more information, please visit http://www.ica.se