8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 7, 2003

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission file number 001-13222

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	33-0350671 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
21700 Barton Road Colton, California (Address of principal executive offices)	92324 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (909) 783-5000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Item 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
Signatures
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT 99.4

Item 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On February 5, 2003, Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. issued a press release announcing fiscal first quarter fiscal 2003 sales and net income.

A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.4.

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		Stater Bros. Holdings Inc.
		/s/ Phillip J. Smith
	By:	Phillip J. Smith
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: February 7, 2003

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
Exhibit 99.4	Text of press release, dated February 5, 2003, entitled “Stater Bros. Holdings Announces First Quarter Results”.

EX-99.4 3 a87463exv99w4.htm EXHIBIT 99.4

21700 Barton Road
P. O. Box 150
Colton, California 92324
Exhibit 99.4
Contact:
Phil Smith
Stater Bros. Holdings Inc.
(909)783-5287

P R E S S     R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 5, 2003

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Colton, California. February 5, 2003; Today, Jack H. Brown, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 ended December 29, 2002.

Sales for the thirteen week first quarter ended December 29, 2002 increased 2.9% to $681.5 million compared to $662.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 30, 2001. Like store sales increased 2.3% for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2002 over the thirteen weeks ended December 30, 2001.

Operating cash flow (EBITDA) is defined as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA amounted to $26.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2003, compared to $27.0 million for the like period of last year.

The Company reported net income for the thirteen week first quarter ended December 29, 2002 of $2.9 million compared to net income of $3.9 million for the thirteen week first quarter ended December 30, 2001.

Brown said; “Our first quarter results reflect improvement from the fourth quarter of last year while maintaining the ability to serve our “Valued Customers” and the acceptance of our marketing plan by our “Valued Customers”. Our team remains focused on serving our “Valued Customers” one at a time.”

Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. is the largest privately held Supermarket Chain in Southern California and operates 156 supermarkets through its wholly owned subsidiary, Stater Bros. Markets.

For information contact: Jack H. Brown, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at (909) 783-5000.

Stater Bros. Markets operates 156 Supermarket locations, with 47 in San Bernardino County, 40 in Riverside County, 30 in Orange County, 27 in Los Angeles County, 10 in Northern San Diego County, and 2 in Kern County. There are over 14,000 members of the Stater Bros. “Family” of Employees. Stater Bros. is the largest private employer in the Inland Empire of Southern California, which is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States. Headquartered in Colton, California, Stater Bros. has been serving Southern California customers since 1936. In the spring of 2003, Stater Bros. will open its 157th Supermarket in Corona, California.

STATER BROS. MARKETS...SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR 66 GOLDEN YEARS

# # #

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
Unaudited

			9/29/2002			12/29/02
Assets
	Current Assets
		Cash	$	81,043		$	98,515
		Receivables		33,561			30,842
		Inventories		175,404			168,087
		Other		23,141			24,121
	Total current assets			313,149			321,565
	Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary			15,580			16,326
	Property, plant, & equipment, net			285,816			288,261
	Deferred debt issue costs, net			13,936			13,074
	Other			5,649			6,430
Total Assets			$	634,130		$	645,656
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
	Current Liabilities
		Accounts payable	$	104,166		$	103,789
		Accrued expenses and other liabilities		88,223			98,542
		Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations		1,117			1,087
	Total current liabilities			193,506			203,418
	Long-term debt			458,750			458,750
	Capital lease obligations, less current portion			10,981			10,720
	Other long-term liabilities			45,014			43,962
	Common stockholders’ deficit			(74,121	)		(71,194	)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit			$	634,130		$	645,656

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

Condensed Results of Operations

(In thousands)

Unaudited

		13 Weeks Ended
		12/30/01			12/29/02
Sales		$	662,587		$	681,509
Gross profits			176,163			183,616
Operating Expenses:
	Selling, general and administrative expenses		149,936			158,023
	Depreciation and amortization		7,504			8,164
Total operating expenses			157,440			166,187
Operating profit			18,723			17,429
Interest income			704			272
Interest expense			(12,796	)		(13,258	)
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated affiliate			648			746
Other, net			(614	)		(389	)
Income before income taxes			6,665			4,800
Income taxes			2,733			1,873
Net income		$	3,932		$	2,927

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EX-99.4

Exhibit 99.4