Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (New Albany, Ohio) reported a 24 percent increase in net sales for the five-week period ended Jan. 1, 2005. Same-store sales increased 10 percent.

Year-to-date, the specialty retailer reports a net sales increase of 18 percent and a same-store sales increase of 1 percent.

During the quarter, A&F said it continued its initiative to improve the in-store experience for its customers by adding staff coverage throughout its store organization. Based on strong December sales, combined with increased expenditures at both the store level and home office, the company said that it expects fourth quarter net income to increase versus last year commensurate with the increase in total fourth quarter comparable store sales.