Kroger Income Up in 3Q

Cincinnati, Kroger Co. on Tuesday said fiscal third-quarter net income rose 18%, helped by stronger sales. Profit for the quarter ended Nov. 10 rose to $253.8 million from $214.7 million in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 10% to $16.14 billion, from $14.7 billion last year.

Identical-store sales, or sales at stores open at least five quarters, rose 7.7% including fuel, and 5.7% excluding fuel. Kroger expects identical-store sales growth of 5%, excluding fuel sales, for the year.