'Current economic situation' impacts Stater Bros. Q2

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. A Southern California-based supermarket chain posted a near 5% decline in its net sales for the second quarter.

Stater Bros. announced Wednesday morning that its net sales for the second quarter ended March 28 totaled $885.5 million, down 4.9% from $931 million in the year-ago period. Additionally, same-store sales for the chain were down 3.1%, totaling $28.3 million for the second quarter.

For the 26 weeks ended March 28, fiscal 2010 sales $1.81 billion, compared with $1.89 billion for the same period of the prior year. Fiscal-year same-store sales decreased nearly 2.7% ($48.6 million), compared with fiscal 2009.

Company chairman, president and CEO Jack Brown attributed the losses to the "current economic situation," adding that Stater Bros. has made "a conscious effort during these challenging economic times to keep prices low to help our customers get the most out of their shopping dollars and to retain customers."

Stater Bros. currently boasts 167 supermarkets throughout Southern California.