'Solid' Start In Fiscal 2015 For Supervalu

July 24, 2014

Supervalu posted $5.23 billion in net sales for the first quarter, a decrease of 0.1% from $5.24 billion last year; but president and CEO Sam Duncan expressed confidence in the company's performance, saying it is off to a solid start across business segments.

"Our first quarter results reflect the investments we are making this year to position the company for future success and I am pleased with our operating performance," said Duncan.

Save-A-Lot's net sales for the quarter were $1.35 billion, a 6.5% increase frm $1.27 billion last year, driven by a network identical store sales increase of 5.6%.  Identical store sales for corporate stores within the Save-A-Lot network were up 7.2%.

The company's Independent Business net sales for the quarter were $2.4 billion, a decrease of 2.6% from $2.46 billion last year, primarily due to lost accounts including lower sales to one New Albertson's banner that completed the transition to self-distribution and lower military sales, partially offset by net new business.

Retail Food net sales for the quarter remained flat compared to last year's $1.43 billion.  Identical store sales were up 0.6%.

On March 21, 2013, the company completed the sale of five retail grocery banners - Albertson's Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Star Market.

Supervalu operates 3,320 stores, which include 1,805 independent stores serviced primarily by the company's food distribution business, 1,325 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 931 are operated by licensee owners; and 190 traditional retail grocery stores.

Source: Retailing Today