- CVS Corp. (CVS) , the No. 2 U.S. pharmacy chain, said that total sales in the third quarter ended Sept. 28 increased 8.6 percent, to $5.88 billion, from $5.41 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales increased 8.3 percent in the five-weeks ended Sept. 28, compared with a 7.9 percent rise CVS reported for its August same-store sales.
- 99 Cents Only Stores reported total sales of $172.1 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002, an increase of $28.1 million or 19.5 percent over sales of $144.0 million during the third quarter of 2001. Total retail sales for the first nine months of the year were $465.5 million, an increase of 28.1 percent over 2001. Total sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 were $503.1 million, up $97.7 million over last year or an increase of 24.1 percent.
- Rite Aid Corp., the No. 3 U.S. drugstore chain, reported that September same-store sales increased 8.7 percent in September from a year earlier. Total sales in the four weeks ended Sept. 28 rose 6.1 percent, to $1.18 billion from $1.12 billion a year earlier. Pharmacy same-store sales increased 11.3 percent, while general merchandise same-store sales increased 4.4 percent.
- PepsiCo Inc. reported a 55 percent jump in profit for its fiscal third quarter. The food and beverage company reported net income of $969 million, or 54 cents a share, for the quarter ended Sept. 7, up from $627 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales for the quarter grew 6.6 percent to $6.34 billion from $5.98 billion a year earlier.
- Marks & Spencer Group PLC reported total sales growth of 11.1 percent or 10.0% same store sales increases for the 12 weeks ended Sept 28. General merchandise sales were up 13.9 percent, and food sales were up 7.5 percent.
