Jan 12, 2006 9:36 AM, from staff and wire reports

SuperValu Inc reported record results for the fiscal 2006 third quarter ended Dec 3, 2005. The company reported net sales of $4.7 billion compared with $4.6 billion in the period a year earlier, and net earnings of $75.2 million versus $64.9 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2005.

For the first 40 weeks of fiscal 2006, SuperValu tallied net sales of $15.2 billion compared with $15.0 billion in the period a year ago, and net earnings of $200.2 million versus $292.9 million in the year-earlier period.

In other news, SuperValu has launched its natural and organic format by opening a Sunflower Market in Indianapolis IN. Housed in a former A&P location, the new 13,000-square-foot store offers natural and organic brands exclusively, with a mix of 80% organic produce, hormone- and antibiotic-free meats, natural and organic baked goods, organic dairy foods, and cage-free eggs.