Data & Analytics

Canadian dollar-store operator Dollarama reported an increase in sales and an improvement in net earnings for the third quarter ended Nov. 3. The quarter was characterized by continued growth in the store network and solid comparable store sales growth.

Sales for the quarter increased by 14.2% to $522.9 million from $458 million in the year-ago period. The increase was driven, in part, by the growth in the number of stores in the past 12 months, from 761 stores on Oct. 28, 2012 to 847 stores on Nov. 3, 2013.

Kroger has extended its streak of consecutive same-store sales growth to 40 quarters — an impressive feat in light of the slow economic recovery.
 
The company reported a same-store supermarket sales increase of 3.5%, excluding fuel, for the third quarter.

"The resiliency of our Customer First strategy … was on full display during the quarter, even as our internal research shows that customers remain uncertain about the economy," Dave Dillon, Kroger chairman and CEO said.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General delivered some impressive financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 as traffic improved and shoppers spent more per transaction on average. The retailer said it plans to open approximately 700 stores in fiscal 2014 and remodel or relocate approximately 525 locations, expanding store selling square footage by 6% to 7%.

Dollar General’s net income increased by a better-than-expected 14% to $237 million in the 2013 third quarter compared to $208 million in year-ago period.

Coral Gables, Fla. -- The likelihood that shoppers will make a purchase online is directly related to the number of product options that are displayed and to how the product information is displayed, either visually or with text. Research from the University of Miami School of Business Administration found when larger assortments of products (i.e. many options) are displayed with images rather than text, shoppers are less likely to purchase a product.

A record 700 new Dollar General stores are slated to open in 2014, the company announced Thursday morning after reporting third-quarter results and tempering its full-year sales forecast.

Same-stores sales at Dollar General increased 4.4% and total sales increased 10.5% to $4.38 billion during the third quarter ended Nov. 1. Profits increase 14% to $237 million from $208 million and earnings per share increased 19% to 74 cents from 62 cents.

Cincinnati – Kroger Co. reported a lower third-quarter profit that matched Wall Street's view. Net income fell to $299 million from $317 million a year earlier, partly on the costs from the pending acquisition of Harris Teeter.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp's November same-store sales missed analysts' expectations, hurt by lower gasoline prices and weak foreign currencies.

Same-store sales were up 2% in the four weeks ended Dec. 1, including the impact of fuel sales and foreign exchange, short of the 3% gain analysts expected.

November net sales rose 5% to $8.78 billion.

Excluding the negative impact of foreign exchange and falling gasoline prices, same-store sales rose 4%.

Aisle50, an online technology platform that delivers grocery discounts on major and local brands to consumers, has teamed up with premium brands such as Clorox, Starbucks, Smuckers and Red Bull to offer consumers recurring discounts on the products they buy most often.

According to Aisle50, the move gives its retailer partners, which include Raley’s, Shop ‘n Save and Homeland Stores, an e-commerce platform that is unique within the world of groceries.