COLTON, Calif. -- Stater Bros. Holdings here said last week Stater Bros. Markets had record sales and operating cash flow for the year and fourth quarter ended Sept. 26.
Sales for the year rose 6% to $1.8 billion and operating cash flow rose 40% to $69.5 million; the company said acquisition integration expenses resulted in a net loss of $9 million for the year.
Sales for the 13-week quarter increased 14.7% to $505.8 million and operating cash flow rose 47% to $19.6 million; the loss for the quarter was $18.3 million.
The company said same-store sales were impacted by cannibalization from some of the acquired stores, with comps for the year up 1.9% following an erosion of approximately 0.1%, and comps for the quarter up 0.3% following an erosion of approximately 0.3%.
Jack H. Brown, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said sales and operating cash flow both exceeded the company's projections.