BJ's Wholesale Club reported sales for April climbed 20.4% to $744.5 million from $618.5 million in April 2007. On a comparable club basis, sales increased by 17.8% for the month of April 2008, including a contribution of 5.5% from sales of gasoline. Due to the timing of Easter, the April sales period included 28 days of sales this year versus 27 days last year. The calendar shift had a positive impact on comparable club sales of approximately 4%.
For April 2007, the company reported a decrease in comparable club sales of 2.1%, including a positive impact from gasoline sales of 1.2% and a negative impact from the absence of pharmacy sales versus April 2006 of 0.4%. A calendar shift in the timing of Easter related sales in April 2007 had a negative impact on comparable club sales of approximately 2%. In addition, unseasonably cold and wet weather across most of the chain negatively affected sales during the first half of April 2007.
For the first quarter of 2008, net sales increased by 12.3% to $2.26 billion from $2.01 billion for the first quarter of 2007. Comparable club sales increased by 9.6% for the first quarter of 2008, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 3.9%. For the first quarter of 2007, net sales increased by 6.6% and comparable club sales increased by 2.3%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 1.4%.
B.J.'s provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for April 2008:
* Sales were strong during all four weeks with the highest increases in weeks one, two and four. Sales increases during the first two weeks were driven primarily by the calendar shift in the timing of Easter and improved weather versus last year. The strong sales increase in week four reflected strength in perishable foods, health & beauty aids and consumer packaged goods.
* Sales increased in all regions with the highest increase in Upstate New York.
* Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 10% versus last year, reflecting a positive impact of approximately 4% from the additional sales day versus last year. The average transaction amount increased by approximately 3%.
* Sales of food increased by approximately 16% and general merchandise sales increased by about 7%.
* Departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included bakery, candy, coffee, dairy, health & beauty, household chemicals, juices, fresh meat, frozen, lawn & garden, oils & shortenings, pet foods, prepared foods, produce, paper goods, toys and trash bags & wraps. Weaker departments versus last year included cigarettes, prerecorded video, residential furniture and tires.
The company currently operates 177 BJs Wholesale clubs in 16 states.
