JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores here said its transition to larger stores helped fuel sales and earnings increases for the third quarter and 40 weeks ended April 3.
$3.04 billion for the quarter and 11.7% to $9.9 billion for the 40 weeks. Same-store sales were up 3.7% for the quarter and 5% for the year-to-date. Average store sales increased 7.7% for the quarter and 9.7% for the 40 weeks.
Forty-seven stores are under construction, with 20 expected to open in the fourth quarter, Winn-Dixie reported. In the 40-week period, the company opened 49 new stores that average 47,800 square feet, enlarged or remodeled 103 stores, and closed 44 stores that averaged 29,900 square feet. Retail space at the end of the third quarter was 45.4 million square feet, up 3.6% from the year-ago total.