Profit expectations modified at Pets Mart

The leading US speciality retail chain Pets Mart has lowered its profit expectations for 2005, although it still anticipates comparable store sales growth in the region of 3 to 4 per cent. As a consequence of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which cost the company a total of 238 trading days, the third quarter fell slightly short of the forecast sales growth of 2 to 3 per cent. Four Pets Mart stores had to close completely as a result of the hurricanes.