Swedish food retailer ICA has posted preliminary sales of SEK86.59bn (US$12.29bn) for fiscal 2006, an increase of 7% over fiscal 2005.


The increase was boosted by ICA’s programme of new store openings, with like-for-like sales rising 5.4%.


Combined sales in December 2006 totalled SEK8.52bn, an increase of SEK443m or 5% over the comparable period of the previous year. The December increase for comparable units was 3.9% the company said.