RONKONKOMA, N.Y.— NBTY Inc. (NYSE:NTY) released preliminary net sales results for December 2009, as well as for the fiscal first quarter (1Q10), ended Dec. 31, 2009. Overall net sales for December 2009 were up approximately 12 percent over the December 2008 figures, hitting $269 million. The largest segment, U.S. Nutrition/Wholesale, posted sales of $176 million, up 13 percent from the same month in 2008. North American Retail same store sales increased 2 percent for the one month period of December 2009 compared to December 2008. European Retail same store sales were unchanged and total European Retail net sales for the month of December 2009 increased 3% in local currency (British Pound Sterling).
For 1Q10, the preliminary, unaudited net sales were $751 million, a 14 percent increase over the first quarter of 2009, ended Dec. 31, 2008. Wholesale sales were up 16 percent to $471 million. Overall North American Retail sales hit $51 million, a 6 percent gain, with same store sales increasing 4 percent.