• May 12, 2010

Consumer appetite for high-quality organics is getting stronger: Whole Foods Market says sales for its second quarter jumped 13% to $2.1 billion, and comparable-store sales gained 8.7%.

"Our second quarter results are the best we have reported in several years, with extremely strong growth in comparable store sales, earnings and cash flow," John Mackey, CEO, says in its release. "We have successfully emerged from this recession with a healthier balance sheet and better capital disciplines."

The Austin, Tex.-based retailer says it is continuing to scale down the size of stores, and says it had reduced the size of three stores in development, and signed leases on smaller spaces for stores in Wellesley, Mass. and Oklahoma City, Okla.--Sarah Mahoney