- 4Q same-store merchandise sales up 6.5%, or 7.3% pro forma
- 4Q average retail fuel volumes per store increased 6.2%, or 4.8% pro forma
Full-Year 2008
For the full year 2008, Susser expects to report an increase in same-store merchandise sales of approximately 6.6 percent on a reported basis and 7.8 percent on a pro forma basis - slightly higher than the top end of the Company's 2008 guidance for reported same-store sales growth of 5.0-6.5%. Retail average per-store fuel volumes are expected to be up by 2.6 percent on a reported basis and up 0.1 percent on a pro forma basis - in line with the company's guidance of 0.0-3.0% for fuel volume growth.
During 2008, Susser opened 12 retail stores and closed four, bringing its retail store count to 512 at year-end.
2009 Guidance
The Company has issued the following initial guidance for 2009:
Category Initial 2009 Guidance -------- --------------------- Merchandise Same-Store Sales Growth (a) 3.0-5.5% Merchandise Margin, Net of Shortage 33.5-35.0% Retail Average Per-Store Gallons Growth 0.0-3.0% Retail Fuel Margins (cents/gallon) (b) 12.5-16.5 Wholesale Fuel Margins (cents/gallon) 4.5-6.0 New Retail Stores (c) 8-16 New Wholesale Dealer Sites (c) 25-35 Gross Capital Spending $50-90 million Net Capital Spending ((d)) $50-60 million
(a) We include a store in the same-store sales base in its 13th month of our operation. (b) Retail fuel margin is reported before credit card fees and other fuel-related expenses. (c) Numbers do not reflect existing retail or wholesale store closures, which are typically lower volume locations than new sites. (d) Net capital spending is gross capital expenditures less proceeds from sale/leaseback transactions and asset dispositions.
Note that fiscal 2009 will have a 53-week calendar for retail division reporting purposes. The wholesale division will have a normal 365-day calendar.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" describing Susser's objectives, targets, plans, strategies, costs, anticipated capital expenditures, expected cost savings, costs of our store re-branding initiatives, expansion of our food service offerings, potential acquisitions and new store openings and dealer locations. These statements are based on current plans and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to vary materially, including but not limited to: competition from other convenience stores, gasoline stations, dollar stores, drug stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and other wholesale fuel distributors; changes in economic conditions; volatility in energy prices; political conditions in key crude oil producing regions; wholesale cost increases of tobacco products; adverse publicity concerning food quality, food safety or other health concerns related to our restaurant facilities; consumer or other litigation; consumer behavior, travel and tourism trends; devaluation of the Mexican peso or restrictions on access of Mexican citizens to the U.S.; unfavorable weather conditions; changes in state and federal regulations; dependence on one principal supplier for merchandise, two principal suppliers for gasoline and one principal provider for transportation of substantially all of our motor fuel; financial leverage and debt covenants; changes in debt ratings; inability to identify, acquire and integrate new stores; dependence on senior management; acts of war and terrorism; and other unforeseen factors. For a full discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
Contacts: Susser Holdings Corporation Mary Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer (361) 693-3743, msullivan@susser.com DRG&E Ken Dennard, Managing Partner (713) 529-6600, ksdennard@drg-e.com Anne Pearson, Senior Vice President (210) 408-6321, apearson@drg-e.com
SOURCE Susser Holdings Corporation