SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets here said net income for its most recent 13-week quarter rose 3.2% to $18.4 million and 6.4% for the half to $37.4 million.
% for the half, the company said. It said same-store sales include results at the supermarkets; Superpetz, a 16-store pet supply superstore in which the chain has an 80% ownership (and which operated five units in the year-ago second quarter), and Weis Food Service, a restaurant and institutional food supplier. Superpetz operates in Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. In the second quarter Superpetz opened six new stores (to operate a total of 16), with four more due in the third quarter. According to Robert Weis, chairman, the supermarkets were able to achieve increased results for the fifth consecutive quarter "during a time of intense competition in all of our markets and slow economic growth.
"And the future is even more promising," he added, given the extensive expansion program. Weis expects to open 21 new stores and complete 16 major remodels over the next 15 months.
Weis currently operates 150 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. The expansion program will add four more Weis locations in northwestern New Jersey, where the company operates a single unit in Newton, Norm Rich, president, told SN.
