Financial News

CHICAGO — Supervalu detailed its strategic plan to deliver profitable growth in the future for shareholders at an investor event May 3.

Commenting on the company’s plans, Supevalu CEO and president Craig Herkert said, “We are focused on acting as one company, working toward a common goal of delivering increased value to all of our customers and meeting their needs neighborhood by neighborhood.”

LAKELAND, Fla. — Strong earnings and sales growth in the first quarter helped drive up Publix's stock price.

Publix’s sales for the first quarter of 2011 were $6.8 billion, a 4.4% increase from last year’s $6.5 billion. Comparable-store sales for first quarter 2011 increased 2.8%. Net earnings for the quarter were $398.2 million, compared with $364.4 million in 2010, an increase of 9.3%. Earnings per share for the first quarter increased to 51 cents for 2011, up from 47 cents per share in 2010.

MELROSE PARK, Ill. — Alberto Culver reported a 6.1% increase in its second-quarter net sales for the period ended March 31.

The company that's behind such beauty care brands as Tresemme, Alberto VO5, Nexxus, St. Ives, Simple and Noxzema said second-quarter net sales rose to $408.2 million from $384.8 million in the prior-year second quarter. On an organic basis, which excludes the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, sales increased 4.3% in the current quarter, led by high single-digit branded beauty care sales growth.

JERUSALEM — Cephalon has another suitor in the form of the world’s largest generic drug company.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said Monday that it would buy Frazer, Pa.-based Cephalon for $6.8 billion, undercutting efforts by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, which had offered $5.7 billion in March.

The boards of both companies have agreed to the acquisition, equal to $81.50 per share. Cephalon previously had turned down Valeant’s offer, prompting the Mississauga, Ontario-based company to take its case directly to Cephalon’s shareholders.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Thursday announced an increase of its 2011 capital expenditure budget by 7% to $110 million. The current budget includes 14 major remodels, two additions and three new/replacement stores.

The company currently is building a replacement unit near Reading, a new unit near Easton and a replacement unit near State College, all in Pennsylvania.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Drugstore.com on Thursday posted a net sales increase of 16% to $128.4 million for its first quarter ended April 3.

"In the first quarter, we delivered strong over-the-counter and vision [categories] growth of 16% and 17%, respectively," stated Dawn Lepore, Drugstore.com CEO and chairman. "With our continued investment in our marketing initiatives, we acquired approximately 540,000 new customers this quarter, up 13% over the first quarter of 2010.”

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Despite its long history of troubles, things appear to be looking up for regional supermarket chain Bashas’.

Bashas’, which operates more than 130 stores in Arizona, California and New Mexico under the Bashas’, Food City and AJ’s Fine Foods banners, announced plans Thursday for job fairs in Arizona — including in Phoenix, West Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson — where it will hire 400 new employees.

Bashas' spokeswoman Kristy Neid told Drug Store News that sales and customer counts lately had been increasing.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday posted revenue of $19.8 billion, up 2.4%, for its second quarter ended March 31.

"In the March quarter, we delivered outstanding performance on top of very strong performance last year," stated David Yost, AmerisourceBergen CEO.