Susser Holdings Corp. expects to report same-store merchandise sales growth for the fourth quarter of 2010 of approximately 7.3% year-over-year and an increase in retail average per-store-per-week fuel volumes of 4.3%.
Fourth quarter merchandise margin is expected to be in a range of 33.7-34%, and retail fuel margin is expected to be 14.7 cents to 15.1 cents per gallon. Wholesale fuel margin is expected to be 4.9 cents to 5.3 cents per gallon for the fourth quarter.
For the full year, the company expects to report same-store merchandise sales growth of approximately 4.0% and retail average per-store-per-week fuel volume growth of approximately 2.5% year-over-year. Merchandise margin is expected in a range of 33.5-33.7%. Retail fuel margin is expected in a range of 18.3 cents to 18.5 cents per gallon, and wholesale fuel margin is expected to be 5.2 cents to 5.4 cents per gallon for the full year 2010.
New Convenience Stores
Susser Holdings Corp. opened seven new retail stores during the fourth quarter, closed three and converted three to wholesale dealers for a total of 526 retail stores operated at the end of the year. Four large-format retail stores are currently under construction.
In its wholesale segment, the company added 51 dealer sites and discontinued three during the fourth quarter, for a total of 431 as of the end of the year, including the previously announced 39-site acquisition completed in October.