Vitamin Shoppe reports rise in profit and sales for Q4

North Bergen, N.J. Vitamin Shoppe reported Wednesday that profit for the quarter ended December 26, 2009 increased to $1.9 million, compared with $0.6 million in the prior year.

Comp-store sales rose 7% for the quarter, and sales jumped 13.5% to $162.4 million.

The health and vitamin retailer operated 438 stores as of December 26, 2009, compared with 401 stores in the year-ago period.

In 2010, Vitamin Shoppe said it plans to open 42 new stores and spend approximately $22 million in total capital expenditures.