Stater Bros. announces sales for fiscal 2009

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. Stater Bros. Markets announced Thursday their sales and earnings for the fifty-two week fiscal year ended Sept. 27.

The California-based retailer reported sales for the 2009 fiscal year of $3.77 billion, an increase of 0.7%, compared with sales of $3.74 billion for the 2008 fiscal year. Sales for the fourth quarter were $947.2 million, compared with $940.2 million for the fourth quarter 2008. Same-store sales for fiscal 2009 and for the fourth quarter were comparable with like periods in fiscal 2008.

The company reported net income of $34.8 million for the 2009 fiscal year, a 14.2% decline from the year-ago period. The results for the fourth quarters of fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008 were net income of $5 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

Brown said, "Our economy continues to hamper growth and has had a negative effect on the family budgets of our valued customers. We continue to focus on the values we can pass on to our valued customers so they get the most out of their shopping dollars while providing a friendly and satisfying experience on each and every one of their visits to our supermarkets. We remain committed to controlling costs as we weather the effect of these economic times."

Stater Bros. is a privately held supermarket chain in Southern California and operates 167 supermarkets