By Tapan Panchal
LONDON--J Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN) Wednesday reported a fall in
quarterly sales amid cut-throat competition among U.K. supermarket
chains.
"In the second quarter, our performance has been impacted by the
accelerated pace of change in the grocery market, including
significant pricing activity and food price deflation in many
areas," Chief Executive Mike Coupe said.
"These conditions are likely to persist for the foreseeable
future and we now expect our like-for-like sales in the second half
of the year to be similar to the first half," Mr. Coupe added.
For the 16 weeks to Sept. 27 , the grocery chain reported a 2.8%
fall in same-store sales, excluding fuel, a third successive
quarterly decline. Total quarterly sales, excluding fuel, declined
0.8%.
Sainsbury posted a 2.1% fall in same-store sales, excluding
fuel, for the first half of the year. Total sales for period,
excluding fuel, were flat.
Write to Tapan Panchal at tapan.panchal@wsj.com
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