Belk Inc. announced unaudited earnings results for its fiscal second quarter and first six months ended August 1, 2009. For the quarter the company reported operating income of $26.7 million, income before income taxes of $13.9 million and net income of $9.4 on revenues of $760.3 million against operating income of $23.4 million, income before income taxes of $11.3 million and net income of $8.2 on revenues of $829.3 million for the same quarter a year ago. The decrease Net Sales were due primarily to a weak sales environment fueled by consumers' continued economic concerns and a shift of state sales tax holidays in some Belk markets from July to August. The increase in net income was due primarily to improved gross margin performance and effective cost control measures during the period. For the six months the company reported operating income of $40.1 million, income before income taxes of $14.8 million and net income of $10.0 on revenues of $1,521.2 million against operating income of $43.6 million, income before income taxes of $19.1 million and net income of $13.3 on revenues of $1,646.6 million for the same quarter a year ago.

Belk Inc. announced that James Harvey will retire as its executive vice president of operations. He will be succeeded by Ron Shealy, who currently is senior vice president of the company's Parisian integration office. Harvey joined the company in May 1995 as vice president of operations. He was promoted to senior vice president of operations in December 1997 and executive vice president of operations in August 2002.

After a thirty year career with Belk Inc., H. W. McKay Belk, President and Chief Merchandising Officer, has announced that he has decided to transition out of management to devote time to ministry related activities. Commencing on August 3, 2009, Mr. Belk's transition will consist of a twelve month period on sabbatical and a subsequent eighteen month period in the role of Vice Chairman.