Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. Sales And Customer Counts Increase In The Second Quarter Of 2013

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Jack H. Brown, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. announced financial results for the thirteen week and twenty-six week periods ended March 31, 2013.

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The Company's consolidated sales in the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2013 were $961.9 million up $24.2 million or 2.58% from the thirteen weeks ended March 25, 2012 consolidated sales of $937.7 million.  The Company's twenty-six weeks ended March 31, 2013 sales were $1.93 billion up $32.3 million or 1.70% from the twenty-six week prior year sales of $1.90 billion.  The current thirteen week and twenty-six week periods were affected by the Easter holiday which fell in the second quarter in fiscal 2013 and in the third quarter of fiscal 2012.  The Company estimates that the Easter holiday added approximately $11.3 million to the second quarter and year-to-date sales of fiscal 2013.

Without the effect of the Easter holiday, like store sales increased 1.38% for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2013 and like store sales increased 1.10% for the twenty-six weeks of fiscal 2013 compared to the same periods of the prior year. 

The Company reported net income for the second quarter ended March 31, 2013 of $11.6 million compared to net income of $16.4 million for second quarter of the prior year.   Net income for the twenty-six week period of fiscal 2013 was $17.0 million compared to $25.4 million for the twenty-six week period of fiscal 2012.

Brown said, "During these tough economic times, we have made a conscious marketing decision to help our 'Valued Customers' by keeping our prices low while providing them quality and value on each of their visits to their Stater Bros. supermarket.  The reduction in our current year net income reflects a decrease in gross profit margins.  We have sacrificed gross margin in the current year periods in order to maintain and grow customer counts. 

Because we have kept our promise to our customers by keeping our prices low, our quality high and providing our customers great customer service, our customers have responded by continuing to shop at their local Stater Bros. supermarket.  We have retained our valued customers and have grown customer counts even though the economy in our marketing area continues to be challenged."

Stater Bros. is the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with annual sales in 2012 of $3.9 billion.  The Company currently operates 166 Supermarkets, and there are nearly 18,000 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family. 

STATER BROS ... PROUDLY SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILIES FOR 77 YEARS

Contact: Dave Harris
Senior Vice President Finance
Phone: (909) 733-5080

SOURCE Stater Bros. Holdings Inc.