BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) today reported that sales for May 2011 increased by 10.7% to $952.9 million from $860.8 million in May 2010. Comparable club sales for May 2011 increased by 7.4%, including a contribution from sales of gasoline of 4.4%. Excluding the impact of gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by approximately 3.0%.

In May 2010, comparable club sales increased by 6.8%, including a negative impact of 3.3% from sales of gasoline. Excluding gasoline, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 3.5%.

                 
        Four Weeks Ended

May 28, 2011

      Seventeen Weeks Ended

May 28, 2011

Comparable club sales       7.4%       6.5%
Impact of gasoline sales      

4.4%

      

3.9%

Merchandise comparable club sales      

3.0%

      

2.6%

                 

Sales Results for May 2011

($ in thousands)

 
Four Weeks Ended % Change
May 28,

2011

       May 29,

2010

 Net

Sales

       Comp.

Sales

$ 952,912 $ 860,813 10.7% 7.4%
 
Seventeen Weeks Ended             % Change
May 28,

2011

       May 29,

2010

 Net

Sales

       Comp.

Sales

$ 3,722,182 $ 3,377,189 10.2% 6.5%
 

The Company provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for May 2011:

  • Sales increased in all four weeks with the strongest increase in week three.
  • Comparable club sales increased in all major regions with the strongest increase in the Southeast.
  • Excluding sales of gasoline, the average transaction amount increased by approximately 3% and traffic was approximately flat.
  • Sales of food increased by approximately 4%, driven primarily by fresh food. Sales of general merchandise were approximately flat.
  • Departments with the strongest sales increases compared to last year included beauty care, coffee, computers, cookies, dairy, deli, electronics, frozen, meat, milk, paper, prepared foods, produce, salty snacks and small appliances. Departments with weaker sales compared to last year included apparel, diapers, juices, plants and shrubs, plates and utensils, pre-recorded video and televisions.

About BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's introduced the wholesale club concept to New England in 1984 and has since expanded to become a leading warehouse chain in the eastern United States. BJ's Wholesale Club operates 190 warehouse clubs in 15 states. BJ's press releases and filings with the SEC are available on the Internet at www.bjsinvestor.com.

BJ?s Wholesale Club, Inc.
Cathy Maloney, 774-512-6650
VP Investor Relations
cmaloney@bjs.com