US organic grocer Whole Foods Markets has reported a near 30% rise in third-quarter earnings, helped by the timing of Easter.
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Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods posted third-quarter net income of $28.7m, or 45 cents a share, compared to $22.1m, or 36 cents a share, a year earlier.
As well as Easter falling in the third quarter this year, earnings were also boosted by new store openings, reported Reuters.
Excluding proceeds from the sale of the Blooming Prairie Cooperative, earnings for the quarter were $26.9m, or 42 cents per share.
Sales rose 15% to $749m from $648.8m a year earlier, while comparable-store sales were up 7.6%.
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By GlobalDataThe company said it expects sales growth for the full-year 2003 at the low end of its 15-20% range, and fourth-quarter comparable-store sales growth between 6.5% and 8.5%.
Whole Foods said it expects full-year earnings per share, excluding a 3-cent gain from the sale of Blooming Prairie, to be at the low end of its $1.62 to $1.69 range.
