MONTVALE, NJ – January 9, 2004 – The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P, NYSE Symbol:GAP) announced unaudited fiscal 2003 third quarter and year to date results for the 12 and 40 weeks ended November 29, 2003.

Sales for the third quarter were $2.5 billion, compared with $2.3 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Comparable store sales increased 1.2% vs. year-ago. The loss for the third quarter was $0.65 per share, compared with a loss of $0.77 in the prior year.

Focusing on continuing operations, during the third quarter, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $60 million pertaining to goodwill and other long-lived assets in its Farmer Jack operations. Excluding this charge, results from continuing operations for the quarter were a pretax loss of $41 million or $0.32 per share as compared to a pretax loss of $41 million or $1.12 per share for the same period of the prior year. EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2003, based on earnings from continuing operations excluding adjustments (“ongoing operating earnings”), was $39 million compared to $36 million in the prior year's third quarter.

The increase in earnings per share is due to the recognition of $34 million of U.S. tax benefits in continuing operations in the current quarter as compared to $2 million of U.S. tax benefits recognized in the comparable period of the prior year. These tax benefits are completely offset by tax expense recognized in discontinued operations, as the Company has a full valuation allowance for U.S. tax purposes. Reconciliation details of ongoing operating earnings for the third quarters of fiscal years 2003 and 2002 to reported earnings can be found on schedules 2 and 4 of this release.

Further charges are anticipated from the ongoing turnaround and restructuring effort in the Farmer Jack operations, which will include the closure, sale or conversion of stores. In accordance with GAAP, these additional charges, presently expected not to exceed $75 million, will be recognized in the next two quarters.

The current quarter’s results from discontinued operations of $1.23 per share include a pretax gain of $75 million from the sale of the Company’s Eight O’Clock coffee division and other pretax benefits of $7 million primarily from favorable asset disposals of businesses closed earlier this year offset by $34 million of income tax expense.

Sales for the 40 weeks year to date were $8.1 billion versus $7.7 billion in fiscal year 2002. Year to date comparable store sales increased 0.7%. The net loss per share was $2.30 for fiscal 2003 year to date, compared with a loss of $4.48 for 2002. Excluding certain nonrecurring adjustments as detailed on Schedules 3 and 5, the ongoing operating loss per share was $2.47 for 2003 compared with a loss of $1.33 per share last year.

EBITDA for 2003 year to date, based on ongoing operating earnings as shown on Schedule 5 of this release, was $146 million compared to $192 million in the prior year.

Christian Haub, Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am encouraged by our third quarter progress, which included continued solid performance in Canada, ongoing improvement in the U.S. and the completion of important corporate initiatives to secure the Company’s financial health.

“A&P Canada delivered positive sales and earnings, despite the softer Canadian economy and increased competition. The turnaround of A&P U.S. gained momentum, with comparable store sales increasing steadily as the quarter progressed. In addition, the new contract negotiated with the union representing most of our Farmer Jack associates in Michigan, and the imminent closure, sale or conversion of stores in that market, will contribute to the ongoing resurgence of that business.

“The sale of the Eight O’Clock coffee division in November successfully concluded our previously announced asset divestiture program, which in total generated approximately $285 million in proceeds to the Company. Finally, the new revolving credit facility we put in place in December has further strengthened our liquidity and increased our operating flexibility.

“I wish to thank the management and associates of our Corporate, Canadian and U.S. teams for their hard work and dedication to the initiatives driving our turnaround. Going forward, we will continue to improve store performance, reduce costs and take decisive action necessary to restore profitability,” Mr. Haub said.

Founded in 1859, A&P was one of the nation’s first supermarket chains, and is today among North America’s largest. The Company operates 645 stores in 10 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum’s, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh, Farmer Jack, Sav-ACenter, Dominion, The Barn Markets, Food Basics and Ultra Food & Drug. The Company invites investors to listen to an audio Webcast of its quarterly discussion of earnings by accessing a link on the “Investor Relations” page of its Website, www.aptea.com. The live broadcast is on Friday, January 9, 2004 at 11 AM Eastern Time, with replays available from the afternoon of January 9 through February 9.

Effective March 28, 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted new rules related to disclosure of certain financial measures not calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Such new rules require all public companies to provide certain disclosures in press release and SEC filings related to non-GAAP financial measures. We use the non-GAAP measures “ongoing operating earnings” and “ongoing operating loss” to reflect what the Company’s earnings would have been excluding certain identified major items, which we believe are of a nonoperating or one-time nature. These items are reconciled to reported earnings on Schedules 4 and 5 of this release. We use the non-GAAP measure “EBITDA” to reflect a measure that we believe is of interest to investors. EBITDA is reconciled to Net Cash provided by Operating Activities on Schedules 4 and 5 of this release.

This release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of the Company, which are based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein. These forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements including, but not limited to: competitive practices and pricing in the food industry generally and particularly in the Company’s principal markets; the Company’s relationships with its employees and the terms of future collective bargaining agreements; the costs and other effects of legal and administrative cases and proceedings; the nature and extent of continued consolidation in the food industry; changes in the financial markets which may affect the Company’s cost of capital and the ability of the Company to access capital; supply or quality control problems with the Company’s vendors; and changes in economic conditions which affect the buying patterns of the Company’s customers.

For financial questions, call William J. Moss
Vice President, Treasurer
(201) 571-4019

For non-financial questions, call Richard P. De Santa
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(201) 571-4495

Schedules for Third Quarter 2003 - PDF
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