Earlier this month The Fresh Market reported that net income for their fourth quarter rose 12.6% to $20.6 million on sales of $369.9 million, a 15.3% increase (compared to the same period a year ago). Comparable-store sales rose 1.9% during the same period.
For the full year, which ended January 27, net income rose 24.7% compared to the previous year, and sales gained 20%. Comparable-store sales were up 5.7% for the year.
Despite the positive results, headlines focused on the company’s stock, which slid to a 52-week low due to a slowdown in customer traffic during the December holidays.
As of January 27, The Fresh Market operated 129 stores in 25 states, and has nine signed leases for additional stores. Overall, the company expects to add 19-22 new locations in fiscal 2013. The Philadelphia region has three stores, all in Pennsylvania.