Internal growth amounted to 5.32 percent for the quarter, including 1.65 percent real sales growth and 3.67 percent food cost inflation. Acquisitions reflected 3.42 percent of total growth. By comparison, fiscal 2001 first quarter real sales growth came to 8.16 percent, food cost inflation, 1.69 percent. Acquisitions contributed 5.25 percent to sales growth.
"Following the attacks on the United States and the events that unfolded in the ensuing weeks, there was understandably a period of confusion and uncertainty in our country and in the entire world," comments Charles H. Cotros, chairman and ceo. "The reduced demand experienced by some of our customers--specifically hotel, resort and convention businesses that rely on air transportation--impacted certain of our operating companies."
Toward the end of the quarter, overall sales trends at operating companies began to firm and have continued to improve, he adds.
Among other quarter results: marketing-associate served business represented 57.2 percent of broadline sales, as compared with 55.6 percent during the equivalent fiscal 2001 period.
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