BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. reported comparable store sales increased
3.9%. On a comparable club basis, food sales increased by approximately
6% and general merchandise sales increased by approximately 1%.
The warehouse club, based in Natick, MA, provided the following additional information regarding September sales:
Sales rose in all five weeks
with the highest increase in week two and the lowest increase in week
three.
Sales increased in all regions
with the highest increase in Metro New York and the smallest increase
in the Southeast.
Excluding sales of gasoline,
the average transaction amount increased by approximately 5% and
traffic decreased by approximately 1%.
Departments with strong sales
increases versus last year included coffee, dairy, frozen, juices,
meat, milk, office supplies, soda & water, snacks, small
appliances, televisions and toys. Weaker departments versus last year
included apparel, cigarettes, furniture, pre-recorded video, seafood
and tires.
In September
2006, comparable club sales decreased 0.9% for September, including a
negative impact from lower sales of gasoline of 0.3%.
The latest period included a
positive impact of 0.2% from sales of gasoline and a negative impact of
0.4% from the absence of pharmacy sales versus last year.
For the 35 weeks ended October 6, net sales increased by 7.5% and
comparable club sales increased by 3%, including a contribution from
sales of gasoline of 0.5% and a negative impact from the absence of
pharmacy sales versus last year of 0.4%.
BJ's currently operates 175 BJ's clubs in 16 states.
