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Axfood Interim Report 1 January - 31 March 2021 Q1 Solid quarter with improved profitability First quarter summary • • • • • Consolidated net sales totalled SEK 13,203 m ( 13,067 ) , an increase of 1.0 % . Store sales for the Axfood Group totalled SEK 11,757 m ( 11,483 ) , an increase of 2.4 % . Operating profit totalled SEK 565 m ( 544 ) , an increase of 3.9 % . The operating margin was 4.3 % ( 4.2 % ) . Net profit for the period was SEK 430 m ( 402 ) , and earnings per share before dilution were SEK 2.16 ( 1.93 ) . The Annual General Meeting on 24 March resolved in favour of a shareholder dividend of SEK 7.50 ( 7.25 ) per share . The dividend amount is being divided into two payments of SEK 3.75 each in March and September , respectively . • The quarter was characterized by the ongoing Covid - 19 pandemic and compares with prior year's hoarding effects . Significant events after the balance sheet date • • To further develop and improve efficiency in the logistics operations and handle future volume growth , an agreement was signed for a new , larger nationwide warehouse for fruits and vegetables in Landskrona , which will replace the current fruit and vegetable warehouse in Helsingborg . Axfood's Board of Directors has decided that the company will repurchase a maximum of 310,000 shares in connection with the long- term incentive programme LTIP 2021 . 2.4 % Growth in store sales for the Axfood Group during the first quarter of 2021 139 % Increase in Axfood's online B2C sales during the first quarter of 2021 4.3 % Axfood's operating margin for the first quarter of 2021 Key ratios SEK m Net sales Operating profit ( EBIT ) Operating margin , % Profit for the period Earnings per share before dilution , SEK Cash flow from operating activities Return on capital employed , % 1 ) Return on shareholders ' equity , % " Shareholders ' equity per share , SEK Rolling 12 - month figures For further information , please contact : 13,203 13,067 Change Full year 2020 53,832 53,696 2,531 2,510 4.7 1,891 1,862 11.9 % 9.12 1,335 -15.6 % 4,851 11101 1,127 15.51 14.17 Alexander Bergendorf , Head of Investor Relations , tel . +46 73 049 18 44 4,643 24.2 45.7 20.70 The information herein is such that Axfood AB ( publ ) is required to make public in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation . The information was submitted for publication , through the agency of the contact person listed above , at 7 a.m. CET on 22 April 2021 . Invitation to presentation of the interim report for the first quarter of 2021 Axfood will present the interim report for the first quarter of 2021 in a conference call at 9.30 a.m. ( CET ) today . The report will be presented by Klas Balkow , President and CEO , and Anders Lexmon , CFO . To follow the presentation , visit www.axfood.com or ring : Sweden : +46 8 505 583 51 , UK : +44 333 300 9032 , USA : +1 833 823 0586