Whole Foods 4Q Earnings Increase 27%

Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market, Inc. reported earnings of $30.2 million in the fourth quarter ended Sept. 26, an increase of 27% when compared with earnings of $23.8 million in the prior-year period. Same-store sales were up 14% while overall revenues for the quarter were up 24% to $927.3 million.

For the fiscal year, the grocer posted earnings of to $137.1 million, a 32% over earnings of $103.7 million in fiscal 2003. Same-store sales for the year rose 14.9% while overall sales increased 23% to $3.9 billion.