AWG Reports Record FY Sales

Associated Wholesale Grocers has reported record sales for its last fiscal year. For the year, net sales were up 3% to $7.25bn, helped by sales of its own labels breaching the $1bn mark for the first time. AWG supplies more than 580 members and operates more than 2,700 retail outlets in 23 states. CEO Jerry Garland noted, "We are pleased with this year's financial results. Our marketing direction stressed value and, as a result, AWG Brands, Best Choice and Always Save had a record-breaking year."

Kam City

Dollar General 4th Quarter Net Income Jumps

Discount store operator Dollar General Corp. said its net income more than doubled in the fourth quarter as customers bought more and shopped more often. Net income rose to $222.5 million, or 64 cents per share, from $87.2 million, or 26 cents per share, last year. Revenue rose 9 percent to $3.49 billion from $3.19 billion. For the year, net income rose 85 percent to $627.9 million, or $1.82 per share, from $339.4 million, or $1.04 per share last year. Revenue rose 11 percent to $13 billion from $11.8 billion a year ago.

Business Week

Walgreens Achieves Record Sales, Rx Growth

Walgreens announced record sales and earnings for the second quarter as it celebrated a milestone of filling 1-in-every-5 retail prescriptions for the first time in the company's history. Net earnings for the quarter were $739 million, or 80 cents per diluted share, compared with $669 million, or 68 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Sales during the quarter rose 8.9% to a record $18.5 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.1%, as front-end same-store sales rose 4.3%.

Drug Store News

Walmart to Accelerate Rollback Plans

Walmart Canada has announced that it will implement a record number of its 'Rollbacks' in 201. Explaining the wider programme, Walmart noted, "Despite an improving Canadian economy, customers are still feeling the financial challenge and are expecting and demanding value. More than ever before customers are looking to save money, and we are determined to help." The retail giant said it will introduce more than 100,000 such individual price cuts this year in 2011, adding that this will help customers save more than $55m.

Kam City

Metro FY Profit Surges, to Expand in Emerging Markets

The Metro Group has seen its net profit more than double for the 2010 year, while its sales rose modestly. For the year, net profit surged to €850m from €383m in 2009, while EBIT rose by a better-than-expected 19% to €2.42bn. The group said it plans to open more than 110 new stores this year, mostly in China, India and Russia. It also confirmed plans to launch its Cash & Carry unit in Indonesia in 2012, and said its Media-Saturn unit will launch an internet sales platform for Germany in the second half of 2011.

Kam City

S Group Reports Solid FY Results

The S Group has reported solid sales growth for 2010, helped by a modest expansion in its store numbers and an increase in consumer confidence. For the year, retail sales were up 6.1% to €10.5bn, helped by grocery trade sales rising by 4.7% to €5.77bn and consumer good sales jumping up 10.6% to €1.2bn. The group reported growth across most of its formats, with supermarket sales up 6.4% to €6.38bn, service station sales up 13.6% to €1.55bn, and tourism and hospitality sales up 3.8% to €750m. The group opened 38 new outlets during the year, and operated 1,636 stores at the end of the year.

Kam City

Aldi No Longer Most Popular Supermarket Chain Among Germans

Last year Aldi North and South were still proudly the best in the same classification, but now it is rather different. Edeka is now with a so-called branch-index of 67.4 points the most popular chain in Germany. Rewe is in second place with 66.8 points. Aldi (North and South combined) has an index of 65.7 points. 'In general the service super and Edeka and Rewe in particular are clearly doing much better with the German consumers' as per Tim Oesterlau of Yougov in reaction to the research.

Fresh Plaza

Metcash Will Close 51 of Its Stores

Metcash was set to close 51 stores out of 138 because it was in financial distress. Lee Modiga of Saccawu's collective bargaining unit said that the company intends to close 51 stores, including Metro and Trade Centre outlets, because they are in financial distress. The remaining stores would be rebranded as Metro. Earlier this month, the group announced plans to sell its franchise division to Shoprite. The Metcash franchise division includes retail stores under the brands Friendly Grocer, Seven Eleven and Price Club Discount Supermarket.

Business Report