Spartan Stores reports drop in Q2 sales

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The lackluster economy caused a dip in sales of nearly $8 million for Spartan Stores, according to the supermarket operator’s quarterly earnings report.

Sales for the second quarter of the company’s 2011 fiscal year were $602.1 million, compared with $610.2 million during the same period last year, though the lower sales were offset partially by higher fuel sales.

Profits increased, however, to $11.3 million from $10.5 million in second quarter 2010.