BJ’s Wholesale Club Reports September Sales Results

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (NYSE: BJ) today reported that sales for September 2009 increased by 4.1% to $928.0 million from $891.1 million in September 2008. Comparable club sales for September 2009 decreased by 0.5%, including a negative impact of 6.0% from lower gasoline prices and volumes versus last year. Excluding the negative impact of gasoline sales, merchandise comparable club sales increased by 5.5%. The increase in merchandise comparable club sales reflected a benefit of approximately 1.5% from a calendar shift in the timing of Labor Day, which moved pre-holiday sales into the month of September versus August last year.

Sales Results for September 2009
($ in thousands)

The Company provided the following additional information regarding comparable club sales for September 2009:

• Merchandise sales excluding gasoline increased in weeks one, two, three and five and decreased slightly in week four.
• Excluding the negative impact of lower gasoline prices and volumes versus last year, comparable club sales increased in all major markets. The New England and Metro New York regions had the strongest increases.
• Excluding sales of gasoline, traffic increased by approximately 7% versus last year. The average transaction amount decreased by approximately 1%, and reflected continued deflation in a number of high velocity departments, including dairy, eggs, meat, milk, oils & shortenings, plastic trash bags and televisions.
• Sales of food increased by approximately 6%, driven by strong sales of perishable foods. Sales of general merchandise increased by approximately 5%, driven primarily by best seller books, computers and televisions.

• Departments with strong comparable club sales increases compared to last year included bakery, books, candy, cigarettes, computers, deli, domestics, frozen, health & beauty, household chemicals, housewares, juices, meat, paper, pet food, prepared foods, produce, small appliances, snacks and televisions. Weaker departments versus last year included electronics, jewelry, milk, sporting goods, toys, trash bags and water.

The Company currently operates 184 BJ’s Wholesale clubs and 103 gasoline stations in 15 states. BJ’s introduced the wholesale club concept to New England in 1984 and has since expanded to become a leading warehouse chain in the eastern United States. BJ’s press releases and filings with the SEC are available on the Internet at www.bjs.com.