RPT-Supervalu 4th-quarter profit rises

CHICAGO, April 17 (Reuters) - Supervalu Inc (SVU.N), the owner of the Albertsons and other grocery chains, on Thursday posted higher quarterly profit compared with a year earlier, when results were weighed down by charges.

The company, which shuttered its upstart Sunflower Market organic and natural foods stores in February, had net income of $156 million, or 73 cents per share, in the fiscal fourth quarter ended Feb. 23.

Its year-earlier net income was $120 million, or 57 cents per share, including charges from the sale of Scott's Foods & Pharmacy stores, stock option expenses and other items. (Reporting by Brad Dorfman and Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Derek Caney)