BJ`s Wholesale Club Reports September Sales Results

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091008005546/en

NATICK, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
BJ`s Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) today reported that sales for September
2009 increased by 4.1% to $928.0 million from $891.1 million in September 2008.
Comparable club sales for September 2009 decreased by 0.5%, including a negative
impact of 6.0% from lower gasoline prices and volumes versus last year.
Excluding the negative impact of gasoline sales, merchandise comparable club
sales increased by 5.5%. The increase in merchandise comparable club sales
reflected a benefit of approximately 1.5% from a calendar shift in the timing of
Labor Day, which moved pre-holiday sales into the month of September versus
August last year.

Five Weeks Ended Five Weeks Ended

October 3, 2009
October 4, 2008
Merchandise comparable club sales 5.5% 5.6%
Impact of gasoline sales (6.0%) 4.8%
Comparable club sales (0.5%) 10.4%

Sales Results for September 2009
($ in thousands)

Five Weeks Ended % Change
October 3, October 4, Net Comp.
2009 2008 Sales Sales
$928,022 $891,095 4.1% (0.5%)

Thirty-Five Weeks Ended % Change
October 3, October 4, Net Comp.
2009 2008 Sales Sales
$6,451,283 $6,561,221 (1.7%) (4.4%)

The Company provided the following additional information regarding comparable
club sales for September 2009:

* Merchandise sales excluding gasoline increased in weeks one, two, three and
five and decreased slightly in week four.
* Excluding the negative impact of lower gasoline prices and volumes versus last
year, comparable club sales increased in all major markets. The New England and
Metro New York regions had the strongest increases.
* Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 7% versus last
year. The average transaction amount decreased by approximately 1%, and
reflected continued deflation in a number of high velocity departments,
including dairy, eggs, meat, milk, oils & shortenings, plastic trash bags and
televisions.
* Sales of food increased by approximately 6%, driven by strong sales of
perishable foods. Sales of general merchandise increased by approximately 5%,
driven primarily by best seller books, computers and televisions.

* Departments with strong comparable club sales increases compared to last year
included bakery, books, candy, cigarettes, computers, deli, domestics, frozen,
health & beauty, household chemicals, housewares, juices, meat, paper, pet food,
prepared foods, produce, small appliances, snacks and televisions. Weaker
departments versus last year included electronics, jewelry, milk, sporting
goods, toys, trash bags and water.

The Company currently operates 184 BJ`s Wholesale clubs and 103 gasoline
stations in 15 states. 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 press releases and filings with the SEC are
available on the Internet at www.bjs.com.

BJ`s Wholesale Club
Cathy Maloney, 508-651-6650
VP, Investor Relations
cmaloney@bjs.com

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