NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abercrombie & Fitch
(NYSE: ANF) today reported net sales of $191.5 million for the four-week
period ended January 31, 2009, a 13% decrease from net sales of $219.7
million for the four-week period ended February 2, 2008. Comparable store
sales decreased 20% for the four-week period ended January 31, 2009, compared
to the four-week period ended February 2, 2008. Total Company direct-to-
consumer net sales increased 7% to $26.0 million for the four-week period
ended January 31, 2009, compared to the four-week period ended February 2,
2008.
For the fifty-two week fiscal year ended January 31, 2009, the Company
reported a net sales decrease of 6% to $3.540 billion from $3.750 billion for
the fifty-two week fiscal year ended February 2, 2008. Fiscal 2008 comparable
store sales decreased 13%. For the fifty-two week fiscal year ended January
31, 2009, the Company reported direct-to-consumer net sales increased 5% to
$271.0 million.
January 2009 Developments
- Total Company net sales decreased 13%
- Total Company direct-to-consumer net sales increased 7%
- Total Company comparable store sales decreased 20%
- Abercrombie & Fitch comparable store sales decreased 16%
- abercrombie comparable store sales decreased 24%
- Hollister Co. comparable store sales decreased 24%
- RUEHL comparable store sales decreased 17%
The Company operated 352 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 210 abercrombie
stores, 507 Hollister Co. stores, 28 RUEHL stores and 14 Gilly Hicks stores in
the United States at the end of fiscal January. The Company operates three
Abercrombie & Fitch stores, two abercrombie stores and five Hollister Co.
stores in Canada, and one Abercrombie & Fitch store and three Hollister Co.
stores in the United Kingdom. The Company operates e-commerce websites at
www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com, www.hollisterco.com,
www.RUEHL.com and www.gillyhicks.com.
To hear the Abercrombie & Fitch pre-recorded January sales message, please
dial (800) 395-0662, or internationally, dial (402) 220-1262.
The company will release its fourth quarter results on Friday, February
13, 2009, prior to the open of the market and hold a conference call at 8:30
AM Eastern Time. To listen to the conference call, dial (800) 811-0667 and
ask for the Abercrombie & Fitch Quarterly Call or go to www.abercrombie.com.
The international call-in number is (913) 981-4901. This call will be recorded
and made available by dialing the replay number (888) 203-1112 or the
international number (719) 457-0820 followed by the conference ID number
6647238 or through www.abercrombie.com
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995
A&F cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this
Press Release or made by management of A&F involve risks and uncertainties and
are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be
beyond the Company's control. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan,"
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, in addition to
those included in the disclosure under the heading "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AND RISK FACTORS" in "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of A&F's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008, in some cases have affected
and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and could
cause actual results for the 2008 fiscal year and beyond to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements
included in this Press Release or otherwise made by management: changes in
consumer spending patterns and consumer preferences; the effects of political
and economic events and conditions domestically and in foreign jurisdictions
in which the Company operates, including, but not limited to, acts of
terrorism or war; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather
patterns; postal rate increases and changes; paper and printing costs; market
price of key raw materials; ability to source product from its global supplier
base; political stability; currency and exchange risks and changes in existing
or potential duties, tariffs or quotas; availability of suitable store
locations at appropriate terms; ability to develop new merchandise; ability to
hire, train and retain associates; and the outcome of pending litigation.
Future economic and industry trends that could potentially impact revenue and
profitability are difficult to predict. Therefore, there can be no assurance
that the forward-looking statements included in this Press Release will prove
to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties in the forward-
looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should
not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that
the objectives of the Company will be achieved. The forward-looking
statements herein are based on information presently available to the
management of the Company. Except as may be required by applicable law, the
Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking
statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any
projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
SOURCE Abercrombie & Fitch
CONTACT:
Eric Cerny,
Manager, Investor Relations of Abercrombie & Fitch,
+1-614-283-6385
Web site: http://www.abercrombie.com
http://www.abercrombiekids.com
(ANF)
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