The need to purchase goods for the shareholder-retailers and to support their business operations and start cooperation among them resulted in the forming of the K-retailer group.

The division's main functions include the centralised purchasing of products, selection management, logistics, and the development of chain concepts and the store network.

Kesko also has small convenience stores, cafes and restaurants which operate at staffed service stations of Neste oil corporation.

Kesko's building and technical trade division operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

The international business model combines the category management, purchasing, logistics, information system control and network improvements of the company's chains which operate in different countries.

At that point, Kesko's competitors in food trade in 2014 were S Group (45.7%), Lidl (7.6%), Suomen Lähikauppa (6.8%), and M chain stores (Nielsen).

However the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) approved the acquisition with a condition that Kesko must sell at least 60 of the stores to competitors.

[10] In the same acquisition Kesko also was initially obligated to keep using Tuko Logistics Cooperative as the main supplier for the bought stores for 18 months, but FCCA later revoked this decision on appeal.