April 29 (Reuters) - Coles Group Ltd COL.AX :
* QTRLY SUPERMARKETS SALES $8,230 MILLION VERSUS $7,232 MILLION
* Q3 TOTAL SALES $9,226 MILLION VERSUS $8,173 MILLION
* Q3 SUPERMARKETS COMPARABLE SALES GROWTH 13.1% VERSUS 2.4%
* COLES ONLINE SALES GROWTH FOR QUARTER SLOWED TO 14%
* LIQUOR COMPARABLE SALES GROWTH OF 7.2% FOR Q3
* LIQUOR NEGATIVELY HIT BY BUSHFIRE SMOG OVER CAPITAL CITIES AND FLOODS IN JAN, FEB BEFORE COVID-19 IMPACT
* IN LATE FEB, SUPERMARKET SALES GROWTH WAS IMPACTED BY CUSTOMER STOCK PILING DUE TO RISING CONCERNS ON COVID-19
* CUSTOMER STOCK PILING DUE TO RISING CONCERNS ON COVID-19 CONTINUED THROUGHOUT MARCH
* IN FIRST 4 WEEKS OF Q4, SUPERMARKETS COMP SALES GROWTH BROADLY TRENDED BACK TOWARD LEVELS IN EARLY Q3
* UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND LED CO TO BEGIN PLACING PRODUCT LIMITS PER CUSTOMER IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES FROM EARLY MARCH
* GROSS OPERATING CAPEX IN FY20 NOW EXPECTED TO BE $750 MILLION TO $850 MILLION
* IN Q4, EXPECTS ELEVATED COST BASE DUE TO ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT AS A RESULT OF COVID-19
* WHILE COLES EXPERIENCED SALES UPLIFT IN LATTER PART OF QUARTER INCREMENTAL COSTS ALSO INCURRED IN CLEANING & SECURITY
* LIQUOR EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE ELEVATED SALES AS LONG AS RESTRICTIONS ON HOTELS,PUBS,CLUBS&LICENSED VENUE OPERATORS CONTINUES
* EXPRESS NOW EXPECTS TO REPORT AN EBIT LOSS, ON A PRE-AASB 16 BASIS, FOR 2020 FY
* RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON NUMBER OF CATEGORIES GRADUALLY BEING LIFTED AS DEMAND REDUCES & SUPPLY IMPROVES Source: https:// Further company coverage: COL.AX