Convenience store chain Susser's 3Q sales up

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Convenience store chain Susser Holdings Corp. anticipates that a key revenue trend rose more slowly in its recently ended third quarter.

The Corpus Christi, Texas company said Thursday that revenue from merchandise sold in stores that have been open at least a year rose 5.8 percent in the three months through Sept. 30. A year ago, that figure rose 7.4 percent.

Revenue from stores open at least a year is a key figure for retailers because it strips out new and closing stores, which can skew ongoing business trends.

The chain also sells gas. Average fuel volumes per store rose 6.6 percent in the third quarter, up from 5.6 percent a year ago.

Susser, which runs about 550 Stripes shops in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, has opened 15 stores this year, expect to open 11 in the last three months of the year and has plans for 28 to 35 next year.

Susser will report its third-quarter financial results on Nov. 7.

Shares rose 10 cents to $34.53 in morning trading.