Apr 15, 2004 12:32 PM, from staff and wire reports

SuperValu Inc, the Minneapolis MN-based grocery distributor and retailer, reported record results for the 13-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, which ended Feb 28, 2004.

The company reported net sales of $5.0 billion compared with $4.6 billion the year before and net earnings of $95.6 million versus $63.9 million a year earlier.

Fiscal 2004 was a 53-week period, resulting in an extra week in the fourth quarter, which generated about $360 million in net sales.

For the fiscal 2004 full year, SuperValu tallied net sales of $20.2 billion compared with $19.2 billion in fiscal 2003. Net earnings were $280.1 million versus $257.0 million in 2003.