Stater Bros 10-Q 2007 Q1 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended December 24, 2006

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition from ___to ___

Commission file number001-13222

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

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

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  þ     No  o.

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  o     Accelerated filer  o     Non-accelerated filer  þ.

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  o     No  þ.

As of February 7, 2007, there were issued and outstanding
36,895 shares of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock.

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
December 24, 2006

INDEX

		Page
PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 24, 2006 and December 24, 2006 (Unaudited)		3
	Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) for the 13 weeks ended December 25, 2005 and December 24, 2006		5
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the 13 weeks ended December 25, 2005 and December 24, 2006		6
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)		7
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		11
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk		23
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		23
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		24
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		24
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		25
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities		25
Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		25
Item 5.	Other Information		25
Item 6.	Exhibits		25
SIGNATURES			26
EXHIBIT 31.1
EXHIBIT 31.2
EXHIBIT 32.1

2

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

ASSETS

	Sept. 24,		Dec. 24,
	2006		2006
			(Unaudited)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	198,545	$	221,094
Restricted cash		24,121		8,121
Short-term investments		26,849		—
Receivables, net of allowance of $936 and $752		35,310		42,030
Income tax receivables		3,863		—
Inventories		196,031		198,879
Prepaid expenses		8,513		9,465
Deferred income taxes		21,609		21,215
Total current assets		514,841		500,804
Property and equipment
Land		110,479		111,236
Buildings and improvements		323,805		338,580
Store fixtures and equipment		397,491		403,394
Property subject to capital leases		25,836		25,836
		857,611		879,046
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		360,538		373,342
		497,073		505,704
Deferred debt issuance costs, net		15,972		15,211
Deferred income taxes, long-term		8,845		10,691
Long-term receivable		12,160		15,701
Goodwill		2,894		2,894
Other assets		6,307		6,641
		46,178		51,138
Total assets	$	1,058,092	$	1,057,646

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (contd.)
(In thousands, except share amounts)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT

	Sept. 24,			Dec. 24,
	2006			2006
				(Unaudited)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	155,827		$	149,111
Accrued payroll and related expenses		55,582			54,242
Accrued income taxes		—			4,282
Other accrued liabilities		69,098			59,611
Current portion of capital lease obligations		1,054			972
Total current liabilities		281,561			268,218
Long-term debt		700,000			700,000
Capital lease obligations, less current portion		7,294			7,056
Long-term portion of self-insurance and other reserves		33,112			33,761
Long-term deferred benefits		43,573			46,266
Other long-term liabilities		3,631			3,522
Total liabilities		1,069,171			1,058,823
Commitment and Contingencies
Stockholder’s deficit
Common Stock, $.01 par value:
Authorized shares - 100,000 Issued and outstanding shares - 0		—			—
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value:
Authorized shares - 100,000 Issued and outstanding shares - 36,895		—			—
Additional paid-in capital		9,382			9,382
Retained deficit		(20,461	)		(10,559	)
Total stockholder’s deficit		(11,079	)		(1,177	)
Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit	$	1,058,092		$	1,057,646

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share and share amounts)

	13 Weeks Ended
	Dec. 25,			Dec. 24,
	2005			2006
Sales	$	867,009		$	904,067
Cost of goods sold		640,294			662,177
Gross profit		226,715			241,890
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses		198,765			201,801
Depreciation and amortization		10,358			11,884
Total operating expenses		209,123			213,685
Operating profit		17,592			28,205
Interest income		2,510			2,826
Interest expense		(14,576	)		(14,285	)
Other expenses, net		(76	)		(171	)
				��
Income before income taxes		5,450			16,575
Income taxes		2,118			6,673
Net income	$	3,332		$	9,902
Earnings per share	$	87.00		$	268.38
Average common shares outstanding		38,301			36,895
Shares outstanding at end of period		38,301			36,895

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	13 Weeks Ended
	Dec. 25,			Dec. 24,
	2005			2006
Operating activities:
Net income	$	3,332		$	9,902
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		13,310			14,851
Amortization of debt issuance costs		761			761
Deferred income taxes		1,767			(1,452	)
Loss on disposals of assets		116			215
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash		(2,600	)		16,000
Increase in receivables		(1,837	)		(5,232	)
Decrease in income tax receivables		352			3,863
Increase in inventories		(23,774	)		(2,848	)
Increase in prepaid expenses		(2,540	)		(952	)
(Increase) decrease in other assets		29			(338	)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable		8,640			(6,716	)
Increase in accrued income taxes		—			4,282
Decrease in other accrued liabilities		(20,078	)		(10,827	)
Increase in long-term reserves		1,388			3,233
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(21,134	)		24,742
Financing activities:
Principal payments on capital lease obligations		(284	)		(320	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(284	)		(320	)
Investing activities:
Decrease in short-term investments		—			26,849
Increase in store construction reimbursements		(895	)		(1,488	)
Increase in long-term receivable		—			(3,541	)
Purchase of property and equipment		(21,530	)		(23,709	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		6			16
Net cash used in investing activities		(22,419	)		(1,873	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(43,837	)		22,549
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		263,397			198,545
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	219,560		$	221,094
Interest paid	$	24,958		$	25,595
Income taxes paid	$	—		$	—

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

6

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

DECEMBER 24, 2006

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

     The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen weeks ended December 24, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending September 30, 2007.

     The consolidated balance sheet at December 24, 2006 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

     For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in Stater Bros. Holdings Inc.’s (the Company) report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 24, 2006.

Note 2 – Reclassifications

     Certain amounts in the prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation.

Note 3 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” FIN 48 requires that a tax position meet a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold for the benefit of an uncertain tax position to be recognized in the financial statements, based on the technical merits of the position. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, and transition of uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of FIN 48 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

     In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 states that fair value refers to the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts and establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop fair value assumptions. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 157 on its consolidated financial statements.

     In October 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R),” which requires an entity to (1) recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, (2) measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the employer’s fiscal year end and (3) recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. SFAS No. 158 has a two tiered effective date with recognition of funded status of defined benefit postretirement plan and disclosure requirements effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2007 for non-public entities and all other requirements effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 158 on its consolidated financial statements.

7

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
DECEMBER 24, 2006

Note 4 – Use of Estimates

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note 5 – Restricted Cash

     Restricted cash represents cash that has been contractually set aside as collateral for certain workers’ compensation and general liability self-insurance reserves. Interest earned on the restricted cash is controlled by the Company and is included in cash and cash equivalents.

Note 6 – Retirement Plans

     The Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all non-union employees. The plan provides for benefits based on an employee’s compensation during the eligibility period while employed with the Company. The Company’s funding policy for this plan is to contribute annually at a rate that is intended to provide sufficient assets to meet future benefit payment requirements. Market value of plan assets is calculated using fair market values as provided by third-party trustees. The plan’s investments include cash, which earns interest, and governmental securities and other short-term investments, all of which have quoted market values.

     The following table provides the components of net periodic pension expense:

	Dec. 25,			Dec. 24,
	2005			2006
Expected return on assets	$	(426	)	$	(519	)
Service cost		679			683
Interest cost		743			817
Amortization of prior service cost		(1	)		(1	)
Amortization of recognized losses		268			215
Net pension expense	$	1,263		$	1,195
Actuarial assumptions used to determine net pension expense were:
Discount rate		5.50	%		5.80	%
Rate of increase in compensation levels		3.00	%		3.00	%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets		5.00	%		5.00	%

Note 7 – Segments

     The Company has two operating segments: Retail and Dairy Manufacturing. Separate disclosures for the Dairy Manufacturing segment have not been made as sales, profits and total assets for this segment are less than 10% of consolidated sales, profits and total assets of the Company.

8

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
DECEMBER 24, 2006

Note 8 – Subsidiary Guarantee

     The Company has $525.0 million of 8.125% Senior Notes due June 15, 2012 and $175.0 million of Floating Rate Senior Notes due June 15, 2010 collectively (“the Notes”).

     The Notes are guaranteed by the Company’s subsidiaries Stater Bros. Markets, Inc. (“Markets”) and Stater Bros. Development, Inc. (“Development”) and the Company’s indirect subsidiaries Super Rx, Inc. (“Super Rx”) and Santee Dairies, Inc. (“Santee”) (each a “subsidiary guarantor”, and collectively, the “subsidiary guarantors”). Condensed consolidating financial information with respect to the subsidiary guarantors is not provided because the Company has no independent assets or operations, the subsidiary guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several and there are no subsidiaries of the Company other then the subsidiary guarantors.

Note 9 – Corporate Office and Distribution Facilities

     Markets has commenced construction of new corporate office and distribution facilities on approximately 160 acres of real property located on the former Norton Air Force Base (“NAFB”) in the City of San Bernardino, California. Markets entered into an Owner Participation Agreement with the Inland Valley Development Agency, a joint powers agency (“IVDA”), which is the entity responsible for the redevelopment of NAFB, to acquire approximately 144 acres of the project property owned by IVDA which transaction closed on January 6, 2006. Of the 160 acre project site, 16 acres were privately owned. The agreement with IVDA requires Markets to acquire all of the privately owned property within the project site; to relocate all tenants and other business owners occupying buildings on the project site; to construct and complete the corporate office and distribution facilities and to obtain all City of San Bernardino building permits and entitlements required for construction of the facilities. Markets has successfully completed acquisition of all of the privately owned parcels within the project site. Markets also entered into an agreement with Hillwood/San Bernardino LLC (“Hillwood”), the master developer of NAFB, to share costs associated with the infrastructure improvements including water, sewer, streets and utilities, which will be required by the City of San Bernardino for the project. On December 21, 2006, an $8.0 million letter of credit used by Markets to secure its commitment with Hillwood for infrastructure improvements was released by Hillwood and the letter of credit was cancelled.

     The NAFB site will be used to relocate and consolidate Markets’ corporate office and all distribution facilities to a single integrated facility from the 13 distribution buildings at 7 different locations in 4 cities currently in use. This site is located within eight miles of the main distribution facility in Colton, California so there will be no appreciable change in the average distance of approximately 39 miles from our distribution facility to our supermarkets. The facility will consist of approximately 2.1 million square feet and will include Markets’ corporate office, training facilities, truck maintenance and other support facilities required for consolidation of all of its Southern California office, distribution and maintenance operations. The new distribution facility will increase square footage and storage capacity from an existing 1.6 million square feet with a storage capacity of approximately 4.1 million cubic feet to 1.7 million square feet with a storage capacity of approximately 6.7 million cubic feet and the facility will be designed to allow for future expansion that would provide total square footage of 2.1 million square feet with a storage capacity of approximately 8.0 million cubic feet. The projected increase in cubic foot storage capacity of 61.7% under the initial build-out and the increase of 92.7% with the future expansion will result primarily from the new facilities’ clear height being higher than the Company’s existing facilities. Taking into account the increased construction costs, including labor, raw materials, steel, concrete and asphalt, the projected net cost of the facility is approximately $295 million. Construction of the facility will be in three components: 1 — corporate offices and satellite buildings; 2 — dry goods warehouse; and 3 — perishable warehouse.

9

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
DECEMBER 24, 2006

Note 9 – Corporate Office and Distribution Facilities (contd.)

     Acquisition of the project property from IVDA was completed in January of 2006 and rough grading and site work on the project property commenced in February of 2006. Construction of the first component commenced in September of 2006 with completion scheduled for September of 2007; construction of the second component commenced in November of 2006 with completion scheduled for January of 2008; and construction of the third component is planned to commence in April of 2007 with completion in July of 2008.

     As part of the Owner Participation Agreement with the IVDA, the Company will receive certain tax increment revenues attributed to the project. Qualifying redevelopment expenditures in furtherance of the project will be established as a note receivable, which will bear interest at a rate of 5.0% per annum. The note receivable and interest will be paid over time through the tax increment revenue. Qualifying expenditures include such cost as demolition costs, city and other governmental fees, infrastructure costs, utility costs and offsite improvements. As of December 24, 2006, the Company had spent $15.7 million in qualifying expenditures, which has been classified as a long-term receivable.

10

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION (contd.)

Item 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our unaudited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of the financial statements requires the use of estimates and judgments on the part of management. We base our estimates on the our historical experience combined with management’s understanding of current facts and circumstances. We believe that the following critical accounting policies are the most important to our consolidated financial statement presentation and require the most difficult, subjective and complex judgments on the part of management.

Self-Insurance Reserves

We are primarily self-insured, subject to certain retention levels for workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability costs. We are covered by umbrella insurance policies for catastrophic events. We record our self-insurance liability based on the claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. The estimates used by us are based on our historical experiences as well as current facts and circumstances. We use third party actuarial analysis in making our estimates. Actuarial projections and our estimate of ultimate losses are subject to a high degree of variability. The variability in the projections and estimates are subject to, but not limited to, such factors as judicial and administrative rulings, legislative actions, and changes in compensation benefits structure. Recent legislative actions within California and efforts we have made within our stores to reduce claims have somewhat limited the severity of workers’ compensation claims. However, no assurances can be given that future legislative events, medical expenses and other loss factors will not require a change in our estimates. We discounted our workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability insurance reserves at a discount rate of 5.8% and 5.5% for the thirteen weeks ended December 24, 2006 and December 25, 2005, respectively. The analysis of self-insurance liability is sensitive to the rate used to discount the anticipated future cash flows for the workers’ compensation, automobile and general liability insurance reserves. As of December 24, 2006, if the rate utilized to discount the reserves were increased or decreased by 1%, the reserves for self insurance would have been $1.1 million higher or $1.1 million lower.

Employee Benefit Plans

The determination of our obligation and expense for pension benefits is dependent, in part, on our selection of certain assumptions used by our actuaries in calculating these amounts. These assumptions are disclosed in Note 6 – Retirement Plans in the accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein and include, among other things, the discount rate, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the rate of compensation changes. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, affect recognized expense and the recorded obligation in such future periods. While we believe our assumptions are appropriate, significant differences in our actual experience or significant changes in the assumptions may materially affect our pension obligations and expense for pension benefits.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the discount rate used to calculate the net periodic pension cost was 5.8%. If the rate used to discount the net periodic pension cost was 4.8%, net periodic pension cost would have been $208,000 higher than the cost calculated at a 5.8% discount rate. If the rate used to calculate the net periodic pension cost was 6.8%, net periodic pension cost would have been $175,000 lower than the cost calculated at the 5.8% discount rate.

11

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (contd.)

Employee Benefit Plans (contd.)

We also participate in various multi-employer defined contribution retirement plans for all of our employees represented by labor unions. We are required to make contributions to these plans in amounts established under collective bargaining agreements, generally based on the number of hours worked. Pension expenses for these plans are recognized as contributions are funded. While we expect contributions to these plans to continue to increase. The amount of increase or decrease will depend upon the outcome of collective bargaining, actions taken by trustees and the actual return on assets held in these plans. For these reasons, it is not practicable for us to determine the amount by which multi-employer pension contributions will increase or decrease.

Long-Lived Assets

We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. When such events occur, we compare the carrying amount of the asset to the net undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. These cash flows are based on our best estimate of future cash flow. If this comparison indicates that there is an impairment, we record an impairment loss for the excess of net book value over the fair value of the impaired asset. We estimate the fair value based on the best information available, including prices for similar assets and the results of other valuation techniques. We adjust the value of owned property and equipment associated with closed stores to reflect recoverable values based on our prior history of disposing of similar assets and current economic conditions.

Factors such as changes in economic conditions and changes in operating performance significantly affect our judgments and estimates related to the expected useful lives and cash flows of long-lived assets. Adverse changes in these factors could cause us to recognize a material impairment charge.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities by applying statutory tax rates in effect at the balance sheet date to differences between the book basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted to reflect changes in tax laws or rates in the period that includes the enactment date. Significant accounting judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes and related accruals, deferred tax assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of business, there are transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. In addition, we are subject to periodic audits and examinations by the Internal Revenue Service and other state and local taxing authorities. Although we believe that our estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Goodwill

We review goodwill for impairment annually on a reporting unit level or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Our Retail reporting unit is the only reporting unit that has goodwill. We determine the fair value of the reporting unit by utilizing a discounted projected cash flows compared to its carrying value of the reporting unit for purposes of identifying impairment. Our evaluation of goodwill impairment requires extensive use of accounting judgment and financial estimates. Use of alternative assumptions such as projected sales and margins and anticipated future cash flows could provide significantly different results. The fair value of estimates could change in the future depending on internal and external factors including control of labor costs, actions of competitors and the effect of future collective bargaining agreements.

12

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (contd.)

Store Closing Costs

We provide liabilities related to store closures for the present value of the estimated remaining noncancellable lease payments and related ancillary costs after the closing date, net of estimated subtenant income. We estimate the net lease liabilities using a risk free discount rate to calculate the present value of the remaining net rent payments on closed stores. The closed store lease liabilities are usually paid over the lease terms.

Advertising Allowances

We receive co-operative advertising allowances from vendors for advertising specific vendor products over specific periods of time. We perform an analysis of the amount of co-operative advertising allowances received from our vendors compared to the cost of running the corresponding advertisement. Any amount of co-operative funds received in excess of the cost of advertising is recorded as a reduction in cost of goods sold. Determining the amount of advertising cost that corresponds to the co-operative advertising allowances received requires judgment on the part of management.

A significant portion of our advertising expenditures is in the form of twice weekly print advertisements. We distribute our print ads through inserts in local newspapers, in direct mailers and as handouts distributed in our stores. On a monthly basis, we estimate the costs of advertisements related to co-operative advertising allowances by dividing the direct out-of-pocket costs for printing and distributing our print ads by the product of total number of print ad pages run during the month and the number of individual ads in a typical twice weekly advertisement. We deem the dollar amount determined to be the fair value of our advertising costs. We then compare the fair value of our advertising costs to the amount of co-operative advertising we received during the month and we reduce cost of goods sold by the amount of any allowance received in excess of the fair value of our advertising costs.

Gift Cards and Certificates

We recognizes a liability when gift cards or gift certificates are sold and recognizes sales revenue when the gift cards or gift certificates are used to purchase our products. Gift cards do not have an expiration date and we do not charge any service fees that cause a decrement to customer balances. While we will indefinitely honor all redeemable gift cards presented for payment, we may determine the likelihood of redemption to be remote for unredeemed card balances due to, among other things, long periods of inactivity. In these circumstances, to the extent there is no requirement for remitting card balances to government agencies under unclaimed property laws, gift card balances may be recognized in other income.

Significant Accounting Policies

In addition to the critical accounting policies disclosed above, there are certain accounting policies that we have adopted that may differ from policies of other companies within the same industry. Such differences in the treatment of these policies may be important to the readers of our report on Form 10-Q and our unaudited consolidated financial statements contained herein. For further information regarding our accounting policies, refer to the significant accounting policies included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained herein and in our report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 24, 2006.

13

STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY

La Cadena is the sole stockholder of Holdings and holds all of the shares of Holdings’ Class A Common Stock. La Cadena is a California General Partnership whose sole partner is The Jack H. Brown Revocable Trust. Mr. Jack H. Brown is the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Holdings. Mr. Brown’s Trust is the sole owner of La Cadena and Mr. Brown is the Managing General Partner with the power to vote the shares of Holdings owned by La Cadena on all matters.

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Stater Bros. is the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California. Our revenues are generated primarily from retail sales through our supermarkets. Our supermarkets’ success is a result of our market strategy of offering everyday low prices while providing our customer with friendly and outstanding customer service on each of their visits to our stores.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we opened one new supermarket in Highland California and closed one store in Pomona, California which was under performing and whose lease had expired. During the quarter, we completed two major remodels and were engaged in major remodels on two stores. As of December 24, 2006, we had one new store under construction. We continually evaluate our stores for profitability, strategic positioning, impact of competition and sales growth potential and make store opening, store remodel and store closure decisions based on such evaluations.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, our sales grew 4.3% over the prior year. The timing of the Christmas holiday added one more sales day in first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Christmas day, the only day that our stores are closed, fell in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 while Christmas day fell in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. For the remainder of fiscal 2007, we anticipate that our sales will continue to grow as we plan to open an additional two supermarkets by the end of our fiscal year. We continue to focus on expansion of sales in our existing supermarkets. Our future growth strategy is to continue to construct supermarkets in core market areas and expand or remodel existing supermarkets based upon our review of marketing trends.

Our consolidated gross profit margin, as a percentage of sales, increased from the previous year quarter primarily as a result of our efforts during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays to reduce the level of promotional discounting. Our marketing area of Southern California continues to be highly competitive and in flux. We anticipate increased competition from new competitors moving into our marketing area. Additionally, the ultimate impact of Supervalu’s recent acquisition of the Albertson stores in Southern California remains unknown and, to date, we have not experienced any major change in their marketing format. Competition from the other two major national chains, as well as ethnic markets, will continue to be on-going.

Construction continues on schedule on our new corporate office and distribution facilities. Our corporate office, dry grocery warehouse and ancillary buildings are currently under construction and we anticipate beginning construction on our perishable building in April 2007. During fiscal 2007, we anticipate the completion of the corporate office and ancillary buildings, with the dry grocery building being completed in the first half of fiscal 2008 and the perishable building being completed by the end of fiscal 2008. Once completed, the new corporate office and distribution facilities will allow us to become even more efficient as we will be able to ship from one location rather than our current seven locations.

Subsequent to December 24, 2006, we completed negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers (“UFCW”), which will be effective in March of 2007. The UFCW members voted to accept the new collective bargaining agreement on January 17, 2007. Portions of the agreement related to benefits are dependent on the employee benefits that the UFCW negotiates with our three major competitors. The UFCW plans to negotiate separately with each of the major chains. The financial terms negotiated with each chain may be significantly different from each other and could create either a financial advantage or disadvantage. Accordingly, we do not know the financial impact the new collective agreement may have on our future operations.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW (contd.)

Santee’s collective bargaining agreement with the Teamsters, which affects approximately 300 employees, expires in March of 2007. We have had preliminary discussions with the Teamsters and anticipate negotiating a collective bargaining agreement that is mutually acceptable by all parties. At this time we do not know what form this agreement may take, nor the financial impact that it may have on our future operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

	Fiscal Period Ended						Change
	Dec. 25,			Dec. 24,			2006 to 2005
($ in thousands)	2005			2006			Dollar		%
Sales	$	867,009		$	904,067		$	37,058		4.27	%
Gross Profit	$	226,715		$	241,890		$	15,175		6.69	%
as a % of sales		26.15	%		26.76	%

Sales

The sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 over the same period in fiscal 2006 is the result of the opening of new stores, an increase in like store sales and the timing of Christmas day, the only day of the year that our stores are closed. Christmas day fell in the second quarter in fiscal 2007 and in the first quarter in fiscal 2006, which had the effect of adding an extra sales day to the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

Like Store Sales

We calculate like store sales by comparing year-to-year sales for stores that are opened in both years. For stores that were not opened for the entire previous year periods, we only include the current year’s weekly sales that correspond to the weeks the stores were opened in the previous year. For stores that have been closed, we only include the prior year’s weekly sales that correspond to the weeks the stores were opened in the current year.

Comparison between first quarter fiscal 2007 and first quarter fiscal 2006 is affected by the timing of Christmas day. We estimate that the timing of Christmas day added $12.1 million to fiscal 2007 first quarter sales. After taking into consideration the effect of Christmas day, like store sales increased $11.7 million or 1.4% over first quarter of fiscal 2006. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, sales for Santee decreased $3.3 million and pharmacy sales increased $1.2 million over the first quarter of fiscal 2006. We have opened four new stores since September 25, 2005. These newly opened stores added approximately $22.3 million of sales to the first quarter of fiscal 2007. While like store sales were positive for the first quarter of fiscal 2007, like store sales were impacted by recent new store openings. We estimate that newly opened stores drew $6.9 million of their first quarter 2007 sales from existing stores. Since September 25, 2005 we have closed three stores, which decreased fiscal 2006 sales by approximately $7.1 million when compared to the prior year.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (contd.)

Gross Profit

The increase in gross profit margin, as a percentage of sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 over the same period for fiscal 2006 is attributed primarily to our efforts to reduce the level of promotional discounting during the current year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Operating Expenses and Income

	Fiscal Period Ended						Change
	Dec. 25,			Dec. 24,			2006 to 2005
($ in thousands)	2005			2006			Dollar		%
Operating Expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	198,765		$	201,801		$	3,036		1.53	%
as a % of sales		22.93	%		22.32	%
Depreciation and amortization	$	10,358		$	11,884		$	1,526		14.73	%
as a % of sales		1.19	%		1.31	%
Operating profit	$	17,592		$	28,205		$	10,613		60.33	%
as a % of sales		2.03	%		3.12	%

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The decrease, as a percentage of sales, in selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2006 is due primarily to a reduction of approximately 1.0%, as a percentage of sales, in union insurance and union bonuses, which was offset, in part, by an increase of 0.3%, as a percentage of sales, in option expense. The increase in option expense, as a percentage of sales, is attributed to the increase in our net income in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Our required payments under the existing union contract for insurance and bonuses were reduced in the current year compared to the same period of the prior year. The savings in union benefits may not be realized under the new collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the UFCW, which will take effect in March 2007. The full impact of the new union contract on our operations is not known at this time as the benefits portion of the contract will be based on the benefits negotiated between the UFCW and our three major competitors.

The amount of salaries, wages and administrative costs associated with the purchase of our products included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarters of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006 is $263,000 and $230,000, respectively.

Depreciation and Amortization

The increase in depreciation expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the same period in fiscal 2006 is due primarily to new store construction, store remodels and other capital expenditures. Included in cost of goods sold is $3.0 million and $2.9 million of depreciation in the first quarters of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively, related to dairy production and warehousing and distribution activities.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (contd.)

Interest Income

Interest income was $2.8 million and $2.5 million for the first quarters of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. Interest income has increased as the interest rate realized on our short-term investments has increased. We expect our interest income to decline in the future as cash on-hand is used in the construction of our new corporate office and distribution facilities.

Interest Expense

Prior to the effect of the amortization of capitalized interest, interest expense was $15.7 million and $15.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. Capitalized interest was $1.4 million and $509,000 for the same period of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in interest expense is attributed to the increased interest rate on the Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2010. The increase in capitalized interest in the fiscal 2007 first quarter over fiscal 2006 is attributed to the ongoing construction of the new corporate office and distribution facility.

Income Before Income Taxes

Income before income taxes amounted to $16.6 million and $5.5 million in the first quarters of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income taxes amounted to $6.7 million and $2.1 million in the first quarters of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 40.3% and 38.9% for the first quarters of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. The change in effective tax rates is due primarily to more federal hiring tax credits being available in the prior year than were available in the current year.

Net Income

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 amounted to $9.9 million compared to $3.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We historically fund our daily cash flow requirements through funds provided by operations and through borrowings from short-term revolving credit facilities. Markets’ credit agreement, as amended and restated on June 17, 2004 expires in May 2007 and consists of a revolving loan facility for working capital and letters of credit of $75.0 million. The letter of credit facility is maintained pursuant to our workers’ compensation and general liability self-insurance requirements. In addition, Santee’s revolving line of credit includes a credit line of $5.0 million all of which may be used to secure letters of credit. As of December 24, 2006, between Markets’ and Santee’s credit agreements, we had $49.5 million of outstanding letters of credit and we had $30.5 million available under the revolving loan facilities.

We had no short-term borrowings outstanding as of December 24, 2006 and did not incur short-term borrowings during the quarterly period.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (contd.)

The following table sets forth our contractual cash obligations and commercial commitments as of December 24, 2006.

	Contractual Cash Obligations
	(in thousands)
			Less than						After
	Total		1 Year		1-3 Years		4-5 Years		5 Years
8.125% Senior Notes due June 2012
Principal	$	525,000	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	525,000
Interest		234,609		42,656		85,313		85,313		21,327
		759,609		42,656		85,313		85,313		546,327
Floating Rate Senior Notes due June 2010 (1)
Principal	$	175,000	$	—	$	—	$	175,000	$	—
Interest		55,043		15,720		31,484		7,839		—
		230,043		15,720		31,484		182,839		—
Capital lease obligations(2)
Principal	$	8,028	$	972	$	2,250	$	3,029	$	1,777
Interest		4,718		1,207		1,972		1,176		363
		12,746		2,179		4,222		4,205		2,140
Operating leases(2)		261,150		35,460		51,589		35,910		138,191
Total contractual cash obligations	$	1,263,548	$	96,015	$	172,608	$	308,267	$	686,658
	Other Commercial Commitments
	(in thousands)
			Less than						After
	Total		1 Year		1-3 Years		4-5 Years		5 Years
Standby letters of credit(3)	$	49,483	$	49,483	$	—	$	—	$	—
Total other commercial commitments	$	49,483	$	49,483	$	—	$	—	$	—

(1)	Interest on the Floating Rate Notes is based on the Three-month LIBOR plus 3.50% and is set quarterly based on the Three-month LIBOR rate for the second London Banking Day preceding each interest period. The floating interest rate at December 24, 2006 was 8.86%.
(2)	We lease the majority of our retail stores, offices, warehouses and distribution facilities. Certain of our operating leases provide for minimum annual payments that change over the primary term of the lease. For purposes of contractual cash obligations shown here, contractual step increases or decreases are shown in the period they are due. Certain leases provide for additional rents based on sales. Primary lease terms range from 3 to 55 years and substantially all leases provide for renewal options.
(3)	Standby letters of credit are committed as security for workers’ compensation obligations. Outstanding letters of credit expire between January 2007 and October 2007.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (contd.)

Working capital amounted to $232.6 million at December 24, 2006 and $233.3 million at September 24, 2006, and our current ratio was 1.87:1 and 1.83:1, respectively. Fluctuations in working capital and current ratios are not unusual in our industry.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended December 24, 2006 was $24.7 million compared to $21.1 million used in operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended December 25, 2005. Significant sources of cash from operating activities in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 included a reduction in restricted cash needed to secure workers’ compensation obligations and income from operations. Significant uses of cash from operations included decreases in accrued liabilities primarily from the timing of interest payments on long-term debt and the timing of payments for accounts payable.

Other significant uses of cash included $11.0 million of capital expenditures during the period for normal new store construction, store remodels and equipment purchases. Historically, new store construction costs, store remodels and equipment expenditures are financed through operating cash flows. In addition, we expended $16.2 million on the new corporate office and distribution facilities, of which $3.5 million has been classified as a long-term receivable related to a tax increment to be received in future years. We estimate that remaining fiscal 2007 expenditures for the new corporate office and distribution facilities will be $173.1 million. We are funding the new corporate office and distribution facilities from cash allocated from the proceeds from the issuance of the 8.125% Senior Notes and Floating Rate Senior Notes. In addition, we are reviewing various financing options to fund any shortfalls that may occur between cash available and cash required to complete the new corporate office and distribution facilities. At this time we believe that available financing options will be sufficient to complete the project. However, there can be no assurances that such financing options will be available in the future.

As of December 24, 2006, based upon our consolidated earnings since June 27, 2004 and the initial amount allowed of $25.0 million under the Credit Facility and the Notes’ indenture and, after taking into consideration payments previously made, we had the ability and right to pay a restricted payment of up to $35.7 million.

We believe that operating cash flows and current cash reserves will be sufficient to meet our currently identified operating needs and scheduled capital expenditures. However, we may elect to fund some capital expenditures through operating leases or debt financing. There can be no assurance that such debt and lease financing will be available to us in the future.

The Credit Facilities

On June 17, 2004, Markets entered into an amended and restated credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Bank of America N.A. (“Bank of America”) as sole and exclusive administrative agent, and sole initial lender, consisting of a three-year revolving credit facility in a principal amount of up to $75.0 million, with the right to increase, under certain circumstances, the size of the Credit Facility to an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million. The Credit Facility amended and restated the existing credit facility in its entirety. Subject to certain restrictions, the entire amount of the Credit Facility may be used for loans, letters of credit, or a combination thereof. Borrowings under the Credit Facility are unsecured and will be used for certain working capital, capital expenditures and other corporate purposes. Letters of credit under the letter of credit facility are expected to be used to support obligations incurred in connection with the construction of stores, construction of the new corporate office and distribution facilities and workers’ compensation insurance obligations. The availability of the loans and letters of credit are subject to certain borrowing restrictions.

The Credit Facility is guaranteed by Holdings and all of its existing and future material subsidiaries, including Development and Holdings’ indirect subsidiaries, Super Rx and Santee (subject, in the case of Santee, to termination upon certain specified events).

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (contd.)

The Credit Facilities (contd.)

Loans under the Credit Facility bear interest at a rate based upon either (i) the “Base Rate” (defined as the higher of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (b) the rate of interest publicly announced by Bank of America as its “reference rate”), plus 1.00%, or (ii) the “Offshore Rate” (defined as the average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in dollars, adjusted for the maximum reserve requirement for Eurocurrency funding), plus 1.75%. For Offshore Rate Loans, the Offshore Rate will be applied in consecutive periods of the earlier of (a) the maturity date of the loan or (b) periods, as selected by Markets of one, two, three or six months.

The Credit Facility will cease to be available and will be payable in full on May 31, 2007. Notwithstanding such maturity date, at any time prior thereto Markets shall be entitled to request the issuance of standby letters of credit having a term which is up to one year following such maturity date, and commercial letters of credit having a term which is up to six months following such maturity date. Loans under the Credit Facility must be repaid for a period of ten consecutive days semi-annually.

Loans under the Credit Facility may be repaid and re-borrowed. The loans under the Credit Facility may be prepaid at any time without penalty, subject to certain minimums and payment of any breakage and re-deployment costs in the case of loans based on the offshore rate. The commitments under the Credit Facility may be reduced by Markets. Markets will be required to pay a commitment fee equal to 0.25% per annum on the actual daily unused portion of the revolving loan facility and the letter of credit facility, payable quarterly in arrears. Outstanding letters of credit under the Credit Facility are subject to a fee of 1.25% per annum on the face amount of such letters of credit, payable quarterly in arrears. Markets will be required to pay standard fees charged by Bank of America with respect to the issuance, negotiation, and amendment of commercial letters of credit issued under the letter of credit facility.

The Credit Facility requires Markets to meet certain financial tests, including minimum net worth and other tests. The Credit Facility contains covenants which, among other things, limit the ability of Markets and its subsidiaries to (i) incur indebtedness, grant liens and guarantee obligations, (ii) enter into mergers, consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions, asset sales, investments, leases and transactions with affiliates, and (iii) make restricted payments. The Credit Facility also contains covenants that apply to Holdings and its subsidiaries, and Holdings is a party to the Credit Facility for purposes of these covenants. These covenants, among other things, limit the ability of Holdings and its subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, make restricted payments, enter into transactions with affiliates, and make amendments to the Indenture governing the 8.125% Senior Notes due June 15, 2012 and the Floating Rate Senior Notes due June 15, 2010.

The Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including payment defaults; material inaccuracies in representations and warranties; covenant defaults; cross-defaults to certain other indebtedness; certain bankruptcy events; certain ERISA events; judgment defaults; invalidity of any guaranty; and change of control.

In November 2004, Santee entered into a revolving line of credit with Bank of America (“the Revolver”). Under the Revolver, Santee may borrow up to $5.0 million all of which may be used to secure letters of credit. Letters of credit under the Revolver are expected to be used for workers’ compensation insurance obligations and for general corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Revolver are secured by the receivables of Santee. The Revolver is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2007.

Advances under the Revolver bear interest at Bank of America’s prime rate plus 0.5% with interest due monthly or, if elected by Santee, at the Interbank Offered Rate plus 1.75%. The outstanding undrawn portion of the workers’ compensation letter of credit is subject to an annual commitment fee of 1.25%.

Under the Revolver, Santee is required to comply with certain financial covenants, which include certain financial ratios.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (contd.)

The Credit Facilities (contd.)

As of December 24, 2006, for purposes of the credit facilities with Bank of America, Santee, Markets and Holdings were in compliance with all restrictive covenants. We are also subject to certain covenants associated with our 8.125% Senior Notes due 2012 and our Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2010. As of December 24, 2006, we were in compliance with all such covenants. However, there can be no assurance that Santee, Markets or Holdings will be able to achieve the expected operating results or implement the capital expenditure strategy upon which future compliance with such covenants is based.

Labor Relations

Subsequent to December 24, 2006, we completed negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement with the UFCW, which will be effective in March 2007 and has a three year term. The UFCW members voted to accept the new collective bargaining agreement on January 17, 2007. The Teamsters’ collective bargaining agreement was renewed in September 2005 and expires in September 2010. Santee’s collective bargaining agreement with the Teamsters was renewed in March 2004 and expires in March 2007.

We value our employees and believe our relationship with them is good and that employee loyalty and enthusiasm are key elements of our operating performance.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” FIN 48 requires that a tax position meet a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold for the benefit of an uncertain tax position to be recognized in the financial statements, based on the technical merits of the position. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, and transition of uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of FIN 48 on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 states that fair value refers to the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the market in which the reporting entity transacts and establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop fair value assumptions. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 157 on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R),” which requires an entity to (1) recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a defined benefit postretirement plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, (2) measure a defined benefit postretirement plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the employer’s fiscal year end and (3) recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. SFAS No. 158 has a two tiered effective date with recognition of funded status of defined benefit postretirement plan and disclosure requirements effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2007 for non-public entities and all other requirements effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 158 on our consolidated financial statements.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF “SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS” OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us) includes statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to plans for future activities. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Holdings. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to domestic economic conditions, seasonal and weather fluctuations, labor unrest, expansion and other activities of competitors, changes in federal or state laws and the administration of such laws and the general condition of the economy.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
DECEMBER 24, 2006

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION (contd.)

Item 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are subject to interest rate risk on its fixed interest rate debt obligations and floating rate debt obligations. Our fixed rate debt obligations are comprised of the 8.125% Senior Notes due June 2012 and capital lease obligations. In general, the fair value of fixed rate debt will increase as the market rate of interest decreases and will decrease as the market rate of interest increases. Our floating rate debt obligations are the Floating Rate Senior Notes due June 2010. The fair values of the 8.125% Senior Notes due June 2012 and Floating Rate Senior Notes due June 2010 are based upon quoted market prices. Although quoted market prices are not readily available on our capital lease obligations, we believe that stated values approximate the fair value of these obligations. We have not engaged in any interest rate swap agreements, derivative financial instruments or other type of financial transactions to manage interest rate risk.

Item 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures.

As of the quarter ended December 24, 2006, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b). Based on our evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have each concluded that those controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information needed to make timely decisions regarding the required disclosures contained in this Report on Form 10-Q was accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a timely manner to insure that the information required to be disclosed by us in this Report on Form 10-Q was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified for filing of this Report on Form 10-Q.

During the quarter ended December 24, 2006, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
DECEMBER 24, 2006

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Various legal actions and claims are pending against the Company in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management and its general legal counsel, the ultimate resolution of such pending legal actions and claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or its results of operations.

For a description of legal proceedings, please refer to the footnote entitled “Litigation Matters” contained in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements section of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2006.

Item 1A.RISK FACTORS

Our performance is affected by inflation. In recent years the impact of inflation on our operations has been moderate. As inflation has increased expenses, we have recovered, to the extent permitted by competition, the increase in expenses by increasing prices over time. However, the economic and competitive environment in Southern California continues to challenge us to become more cost efficient as our ability to recover increases in expenses through price increases is diminished. Our future results of operations will depend upon our ability to adapt to the current economic environment as well as the current competitive conditions.

We conduct our business primarily in one industry segment, the operation of retail food supermarkets, which offer for sale to the public most merchandise typically found in supermarkets. The supermarket industry is a highly competitive industry, which is characterized by low profit margins. Competitive factors typically include the price, quality and variety of products, customer service, and store location and condition. We believe that our competitive strengths include our service departments, everyday low prices, breadth of product selection, high product quality, one-stop shopping convenience, attention to customer service, convenient store locations, a long history of community involvement and established long-term customer base in the Inland Empire (consisting of San Bernardino and Riverside counties) and in the counties of Kern, Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Given the wide assortment of products we offer, we compete with various types of retailers, including local, regional and national supermarket retailers, convenience stores, retail drug stores, national general merchandisers and discount retailers, membership clubs and warehouse stores. Our primary competitors include Vons, Albertson’s, Ralphs, and a number of independent supermarket operators. We also face competitive pressures from existing and new “big box” format retailers. In addition, we expect Von’s, Albertson’s and Ralphs to continue to apply pricing and other competitive pressures as they expand the number of their stores in our market area and as they continue to take steps to both maintain and grow their customer counts. We believe it is our everyday low prices, breadth of product offering, which includes approximately 40,000 items offered for sale in our stores, service departments and long-term customer relationships will assist and complement our ability to compete in this increased competitive environment. We monitor competitive activity and regularly review our marketing and business strategy and periodically adjust them to adapt to changes in our primary trading area.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.
DECEMBER 24, 2006

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION (contd.)

Item 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

              None

Item 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

              None

Item 4.SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

              None

Item 5.OTHER INFORMATION

              None

Item 6.EXHIBITS

(a)	Exhibits
31.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 (a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 (a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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STATER BROS. HOLDINGS INC.

Signatures

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

Date: February 7, 2007	/s/ Jack H. Brown
	Jack H. Brown
	Chairman of the Board, President,
	and Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: February 7, 2007	/s/ Phillip J. Smith
	Phillip J. Smith
	Executive Vice President
	and Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)

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