BJ's Wholesale Club Reports September Sales Results

October 8, 2008 8:00 AM EDT

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) today reported that sales for September 2008 increased by 11.8% to $892.8 million from $798.9 million in September 2007. On a comparable club basis, sales for September 2008 increased by 10.4%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline worth 4.8%.

                                                        Five    Five
                                                        Weeks   Weeks
                                                        Ended   Ended
                                                       October October
                                                         4,      6,
                                                         2008    2007
                                                       ------- -------
Merchandise comparable club sales                       5.6%    4.1%
Impact of gasoline sales                                4.8%    0.2%
Impact of closed pharmacies                               -    (0.4)%
Comparable club sales                                   10.4%   3.9%
                                                       ------- -------

                   Sales Results for September 2008
                           ($ in thousands)
         Five Weeks Ended                         % Change
   October 4,        October 6,             Net             Comp.
      2008              2007               Sales            Sales
----------------- ----------------    ---------------- ---------------
    $892,846          $798,896             11.8%            10.4%

     Thirty-Five Weeks Ended                      % Change
   October 4,        October 6,             Net             Comp.
      2008              2007               Sales            Sales
----------------- ----------------    ---------------- ---------------
   $6,577,556        $5,720,013            15.0%            12.6%

The Company provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for September 2008:

    --  Sales increased in all five weeks with the highest increases
        in weeks one and five and the smallest increases in weeks two
        and three.

    --  Sales increases were roughly the same in all major regions
        with the exception of upstate New York where comp sales
        exceeded the chain average.

    --  Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by
        approximately 4% versus last year and the average transaction
        amount increased by approximately 1%.

    --  Sales of food increased by approximately 10%, driven by strong
        sales of perishable foods. Sales of general merchandise
        decreased by approximately 3%, due in part to lower sales of
        televisions, jewelry and toys versus last year.

    --  Departments with the strongest sales increases compared to
        last year included bakery, baking needs, candy, coffee,
        computers, dairy, full service deli, health & beauty,
        household chemicals, meat, oils & shortenings, pet food,
        paper, pasta, prepared dinners, produce and snacks. Weaker
        departments versus last year included cigarettes, electronics,
        jewelry, juices, pre-recorded video, storage, televisions and
        toys.

The Company currently operates 178 BJ's Wholesale clubs in 16 states. BJ's introduced the wholesale club concept to New England in 1984 and has since expanded to become a leading warehouse chain in the eastern United States. BJ's press releases and filings with the SEC are available on the Internet at www.bjs.com.

BJ-S

Source: BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.

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