Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market, the operator of more than 300 natural and organic food stores in the US and the UK, has recorded a 35 per cent increase in first-quarter net income to US$88.5m.

The supermarket chain, based in Austin, TX, has adjusted its fiscal 2011 full-year forecasts accordingly, with comparable-store sales estimated to go up 8.5-8.7 per cent.

Co-CEO Walter Robb said: 'We are continuing to gain market share at a faster rate than most public food retailers as reflected in our 8.5 per cent comparable-store sales growth year to date. We attribute much of our success to our value efforts, which have improved our price image.'

Robb also revealed that Whole Foods would be 'accelerating our new store openings once again'.

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