By Rory Gallivan

 

LONDON--U.K. retailer J Sainsbury PLC (SBRY.LN) on Thursday reported a fall in supermarket sales in the nine weeks to March 11 amid a competitive environment, but said it was pleased with its performance.

Total sales excluding fuel at the company's supermarket Sainsbury's fell 0.1% in the period and were down 0.5% on a comparable basis, stripping out factors such as new stores, the company said in a fourth-quarter trading statement.

Total sales at the company's catalog-based retailer of furniture, electronics and other items, Argos, were up 3.8%; on a comparable basis, sales rose 4.3%.

"We are pleased with this performance and are making good progress against our key priorities," said Chief Executive Mike Coupe.

"The market remains very competitive and the impact of cost price pressures remains uncertain," he added.

 

-Write to Rory Gallivan at rory.gallivan@wsj.com; Twitter: @RoryGallivan

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 16, 2017 03:47 ET (07:47 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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