Weis Markets has booked higher sales and profit for the third quarter, which management attributed to the company’s investment in its loyalty and low-price programs.

The company’s net sales for the 13 weeks ended September 28 increased 2.2 per cent year-on-year to $1.186 billion, while comparable store sales excluding fuel increased 3 per cent.

Income from operations was largely flat, but net income surged 11.3 per cent to $25.8 million.

“We continue to make progress in a post-inflationary environment affecting our year-over-year comparisons”, said chairman, president and CEO Jonathan H Weis.

 “We attribute our results to our popular Weis Rewards loyalty marketing program, continuing investments in our Low, Low Price program of more than 10,000 high-demand products… and disciplined store-level efficiencies that help us effectively balance customer experience and cost management,” Weis added.

For the first nine months, net sales edged up 1.8 per cent to $3.54 billion, but net income dropped 9.7 per cent to $75.2 million.

Founded in 1912, Weis Markets operates 198 food retail stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia and Virginia.