A 7% increase in sales has boosted quarterly profits at US retailer Stater Bros.

The company, which runs 167 supermarkets in California, yesterday (7 January) reported a 3.6% rise in operating profit to US$26.4m for the 13 weeks to 25 December. 

Sales were up 6.9% at $960.7m. Like-for-like sales also increased 6.9%, Stater Bros. said.

The retailer reported net income of $9m, up from $2.8m a year earlier due to lower interest costs.