BJ’s Wholesale (BJ) Comps Increased 8.4% in January 2010, 4.6% in Q409

February 4, 2010 8:08 AM EST

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) today reported that total sales for the month of January 2010 increased by 13.0% to $742.6 million from $656.9 million in January 2009. On a comparable club basis, January sales increased by 8.4%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of approximately 5.5%. Excluding gasoline sales, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 2.9% in January. A calendar shift in the timing of the Super Bowl from January last year to February this year had a negative impact on merchandise comparable club sales of approximately 2%.

In 2009, the Company reported a comparable club sales decrease of 0.7% for the month of January, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 8.3%. Excluding gasoline sales, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 7.6% in January 2009.

For the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2010, total sales increased by 9.4% to $2.74 billion, and comparable club sales increased by 4.6%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 2.3%. For the year ended January 30, 2010, total sales rose by 1.6% to $9.95 billion and comparable club sales decreased by 1.9%, including a negative impact from sales of gasoline of 5.9%.

The Company provided the following additional information regarding January 2010 comparable club sales:

• Sales increased in weeks one, two and three, with the largest increase in week two. Sales decreased in week four, due primarily to the calendar shift in the timing of the Super Bowl from week four in January, 2009 to week one of February, 2010.
  
  
• By region, sales increased in all regions, with the strongest increases in the Southeast and Upstate New York.
  
  
• Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 5% and the average transaction amount decreased by approximately 2%.
  
  
• Sales of food increased by approximately 4% and general merchandise sales were approximately flat to last year.

Merchandise departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included apparel, breakfast foods, candy, cigarettes, dairy, frozen, health and beauty aids, household chemicals, housewares, juices, paper products, produce, residential furniture, small appliances and tires. Weaker departments versus last year included automotive and tools, pre-recorded video, sporting goods, televisions and trash bags.

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