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Sales at Weis Markets inch up in third quarter

Expanded pickup, delivery service boost online grocery sales

Russell Redman

November 5, 2018

2 Min Read
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Weis Markets Inc. saw revenue and same-store sales edge up for the fiscal 2018 third quarter, while the rollout of online grocery pickup and delivery services has hoisted e-commerce sales for the year to date.

Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis said that for the quarter ended Sept. 29, revenue totaled $869.1 million, up 1.7% from $854.3 million a year earlier. Comparable-store sales rose 0.7%, down from a 1.5% year-over-year increase in the 2017 quarter.

At the bottom line, net earnings came in at $14.2 million, or 53 cents per share, compared with $4.4 million, or 37 cents per share, a year ago.

Weis noted that its third-quarter income before income taxes climbed 172% to $18.6 million due to improved efficiencies at stores acquired in 2016, advances in price optimization and better store-level inventory management. Results also got a lift from more disciplined fresh department sell-through versus the 2017 quarter, the company added.

For the year to date, sales at Weis rose 1.3% to $2.62 billion from $2.58 billion in the prior-year period. Comp-store sales gained 0.7%.

Net income for the 39 weeks totaled $49.5 million, or $1.84 per share, versus $34.8 million, or $1.29 per share, in the year-ago period.

Online sales have surged 36% for the year to date, Weis reported. The company attributed the growth to significant expansion in its Weis 2 Go Online curbside pickup program, now available at 87 store locations.

Related:Weis Markets steps up home delivery with Shipt

More Weis stores also are offering online grocery delivery. On Oct. 11, the retailer expanded home delivery through Shipt to 16 additional metropolitan markets. Weis had launched its partnership with Shipt in early September, rolling out the service to stores in 11 markets, including the delivery provider’s debut in Delaware. Currently, 172 Weis stores offer Shipt delivery.   

Overall, Weis operates 204 supermarkets in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York West Virginia and Virginia.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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