STEWARTVILLE, Minn. (April 30, 2010)—Rochester Medical Corp. posted a net loss of $351,000 on sales of $9.85 million in the second quarter ended March 31, the company reported April 29.
The loss was down from the $361,000 net earnings the Stewartville medical components firm had in the like period of 2009. Sales were up 16.6 percent from the second quarter of last year.
Rochester attributed the income decrease to increased investment in sales and marketing programs and lower gross margin due to rapid growth of advanced Rochester Medical branded products which aren't yet at sales volumes needed for margin efficiencies.
The sales increase in the quarter was bolstered by a 32-percent increase in branded products, which offset a 12-percent decrease in private label sales, the company said.
Through six months of fiscal 2010, Rochester posted a net loss of $520,000 on net sales of $20.1 million, compared to earnings of nearly $415,000 on sales of $16.9 million reported in the like period a year ago.