SALT LAKE CITY -- Same-store sales at American Stores Co. here were up in all divisions for the first quarter ended May 4 -- the highest quarterly comparable results since 1989's fourth quarter.
d same-store sales would have risen 4.1%.
Same-store sales in the eastern food operations rose 3.7% vs. a decline of 0.5% a year ago. Comparable sales in the western food operations rose 3.8% vs. a 2.1% drop a year before. Excluding the impact of the labor dispute, comp sales in the western arm would have risen 1.4% for the quarter, American said.
Victor L. Lund, chairman and chief executive officer, attributed the increases in part to "our commitment to maintain a modern store base through our expanded capital expenditure program." In the quarter, American opened 10 new stores, completed eight remodels and closed 24 stores, with capital expenditures totaling $181.3 million.