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Axfood Strong quarter with high intensity Second quarter summary Net sales totalled SEK 13,903 m ( 13 570 ) , an increase of 2.5 % . Store sales for the Axfood Group totalled SEK 12,059 m ( 11,928 ) , an increase of 1.1 % . Operating profit , including items affecting comparability pertaining to acquisition costs of SEK 54 m for the transaction with Bergendahls , was SEK 607 m ( 605 ) . The operating margin was 4.4 % ( 4.5 % ) . Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability totalled SEK 661 m ( 605 ) , an increase of 9.2 % . The operating margin excluding items affecting comparability was 4.8 % ( 4.5 % ) . Net profit for the period was SEK 455 m ( 446 ) , and earnings per share before dilution were SEK 2.27 ( 2.22 ) . Interim Report 1 January 30 June 2021 On 31 May Axfood announced that it reached an agreement to acquire 100 % of Bergendahl Food AB and a minority stake corresponding to 9.9 % of the shares in City Gross Sverige AB with an option to acquire shares up to a total shareholding of 30 % . Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the Swedish Competition Authority . Key ratios SEK m Net sales Operating profit ( EBIT ) Operating profit ( EBIT ) excl . items affecting comparability " Operating margin , % Operating margin excl . items affecting comparability , % ¹ Profit for the period Earnings per share before dilution , SEK Earnings per share before dilution excl . items affecting comparability , SEK¹ Cash flow from operating activities Return on capital employed , % ² ) Return on shareholders ' equity , % 2 ) Q2 2021 13,903 607 661 4.4 4.8 455 2.27 2.48 121 25.6 56.1 First half summary ● Net sales totalled SEK 27,106 m ( 26,636 ) , an increase of 1.8 % . Store sales for the Axfood Group totalled SEK 23,809 m ( 23,411 ) , an increase of 1.7 % . Operating profit was SEK 1,172 m ( 1,148 ) . The operating margin was 4.3 % ( 4.3 % ) . Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability totalled SEK 1,225 m ( 1,148 ) , an increase of 6.7 % . The operating margin excluding items affecting comparability was 4.5 % ( 4.3 % ) . Net profit for the period was SEK 885 m ( 848 ) , and earnings per share before dilution were SEK 4.43 ( 4.15 ) . ● ● Significant events after the balance sheet date ● To further develop and improve efficiency in the logistics operations and handle future growth , agreements have been signed for a new , automated e - commerce warehouse in Backa in Gothenburg , expansion along with automation of the existing high - bay warehouse in Backa , and automation of the new and larger nationwide warehouse for fruits and vegetables that is being built in Landskrona . Total investments in automation will amount to approximately EUR 65 m during the period 2021-2024 . Q2 2020 13,570 605 605 4.5 Shareholders ' equity per share , SEK 1 ) See Note 10 Items affecting comparability for more information . 2 ) Rolling 12 - month figures . 4.5 446 2.22 2.22 859 24.5 53.6 For further information , please contact : Alexander Bergendorf , Head of Investor Relations , tel . +46 73 049 18 44 . Change 2.5 % 0.4 % 9.2 % -0.1 0.3 1.9 % 2.3 % 11.6 % 30.5 % 1.0 2.6 6 mos 2021 27,106 1,172 1,225 4.3 4.5 885 4.43 4.64 2,248 25.6 56.1 17.56 6 mos 2020 26,636 1,148 1,148 4.3 4.3 848 4.15 4.15 2,194 24.5 53.6 15.95 Change 1.8 % 2.0 % 6.7 % 0.0 0.2 4.3 % 6.7 % 11.8 % 2.5 % 1.0 2.6 10.1 % Invitation to presentation of the interim report for the second quarter of 2021 Axfood will present the interim report for the second 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 8 519 993 83 , UK : +44 333 300 9268 , USA : +1 833 823 0586 . 1.1 % Growth in store sales for the Axfood Group during second quarter 36 % Growth in net sales online to consumers during second quarter 4.8 % Axfood Group's operating margin excluding items affecting comparability during second quarter R12 54,166 2,533 2,587 4.7 4.9 Q2 1,899 4,905 25.6 56.1 The information herein is such that Axfood AB ( publ ) is required to make public in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Market Act . The information was submitted for publication , through the agency of the contact person listed above , at 7 a.m. CET on 15 July 2021 . Full year 2020 53,696 2,510 2,510 4.7 4.7 1,862 9.12 9.12 4,851 24.2 45.7 20.70