- Wild Oats Markets posted third quarter net income of $2.2 million, compared to net loss of $2.9 million in last year's third quarter. Sales in the third quarter of 2002 increased 2.7 percent to $228.1 million, compared to $222.2 million in the third quarter of 2001. Same store sales were up 5.6 percent.
- Marks & Spencer PLC has reported stronger-than-expected first-half pretax profit that is the equivalent of $444.4 million (US), up 34 percent from $332.3 million (US) last year and above analysts' expectations of $433 million (US). Sales were up eight percent at $5.7 billion (US).
- Smart & Final Inc. posted third quarter sales of $627 million, compared to $609 million during the same period a year ago. Net income was $2.7 million, down from $3.9 million during the third quarter of 2001. Same store sales were up 2.5 percent.
- Rite Aid Corp.'s October same-store sales rose 6.3 percent, with a 9.4 percent increase in pharmacy same-store sales and 1.1 percent growth in front-end same-store sales. Total sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 26 rose 3.7 percent to $1.19 billion from $1.14 billion a year earlier.
- CVS Corp. reported that total sales in the four-week period ended Oct. 26 rose 7.0 percent to $1.86 billion from $1.74 billion in the prior year. Same-store sales increased 7.1 percent in October from a year earlier.
- The Japanese unit of Starbucks Corp. said it projects a net loss that is the equivalent of $4.1 million (US) for the year ending in March 2003, compared to an earlier forecast of a $7.7 million (US) profit for the year, and last year’s profit of $6 million (US).
