in fiscal year 1996 (ending february 3, 1996), supermarkets general had net income of $77 million on sales of $3.97 billion. pathmark's sales were $3.85 billion. in fiscal year 1997 (ending february 1, 1997), the parent company had a net loss of $20 million on sales of $3.71 billion. this included a charge the company took for the upcoming sale of 12 unprofitable pathmark stores, mostly in southern new jersey. pathmark's supermarket sales came to all but $9 million of the corporate total. same-store sales decreased 2.8 percent from the previous fiscal year, primarily due to heavy competition. james donald, futterman's successor as chief executive officer, laid off over 200 employees at pathmark's woodbridge, new jersey headquarters in march 1997.