Kobe Bussan's (TYO:3038) profit attributable to owners of the parent fell 44% to 5.91 billion yen for the fiscal first quarter from 10.6 billion yen a year earlier.

The supermarket operator's earnings per share declined to 26.53 yen from 47.61 yen a year ago, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Friday.

Net sales rose 6.9% to 141.6 billion yen for the three months ended Jan. 31, from 132.4 billion yen in the prior year.

For the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, the company forecasts attributable profit of 29.5 billion yen, basic earnings per share of 133.24 yen, and net sales of 566.5 billion yen.

Kobe Bussan plans to pay a year-end dividend of 32 yen per share for the current year, which is higher than the 30 yen per share paid in the previous year.