JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Comparable-store sales at Winn-Dixie Stores here fell 5.2% in the fourth quarter, including a 4.2% drop in traffic and a 1% decline in basket size, the company said Monday.
“The economic and competitive environment remained very difficult in the fourth quarter, and our decision to maintain gross margin rate negatively impacted our identical-store sales significantly,” said Peter Lynch, chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement.
The company posted net income of $14 million for the 13-week quarter, compared with $9.4 million in the year-ago, 12-week fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the 13-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $41.3 million, compared with adjusted EBITDA of $44.3 million for the 12-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
Sales in the quarter were up 1.8%, to $1.7 billion, due to the additional week.
For the 53-week year, net income was $28.9 million, compared with $39.8 million in fiscal 2009, which had 52 weeks. The year-ago period included an after-tax gain of $13.8 million for an insurance settlement. Sales for the full year were up 1.6%, to $119.2 million, with full-year comps down 2.9%.
