INDIANAPOLIS -- Marsh Supermarkets here said last week its 2.7% decline in comparable-store sales in the quarter ended June 21 was due to a difficult economic environment, increased competitive promotions, new competitive supermarket square footage and unseasonably cool, wet weather in the Midwest.
er new territory because it is already No. 1 or 2 in all the markets it currently serves, the reports said.
John Turek, Marsh's vice president of construction and planning, described the new concept stores -- the first two of which will open later this year in Fort Wayne, Ind. -- as being more like a department store than a supermarket, with each product category in its own room, according to the reports.
Marsh did not return phone calls to SN for further comment.
In the 12-week first quarter, sales decreased 1.4% to $378 million, net income fell 72.7% to $813,000, and earnings per share were 10 cents, compared with 33 cents in last year's first quarter.
Marsh said, "As we progress through the year, we expect an improving economic and operating climate that we believe will reward our merchandising programs with improved operating results."
