Ahold sees steady sales
Like-for-likes growth slower in challenging market
October 25 2002
International supermarket operator Ahold saw total rise 5.8 per cent to 16.4 bn euros in the third quarter.
Against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions, Ahold saw like-for-like growth of 1.5 per cent globally compared to 6.5 per cent in the same quarter last year.
The US performed worst, with sales in the Ahold regional supermarket chains, which include Stop & Shop, Giant, Tops, BI-LO and Bruno’s, increasing by 11.5 per cent , but same store sales falling by 0.2 per cent and comparable US sales growing by 0.6 per cent.
Across Europe, sales increased by 6.6 per cent to 5.5 bn euros, with like-for-like sales growth, excluding currency impact, growing by 4.8 per cent. In South America, where Ahold’s business has been hit by currency problems, sales decreased by 49.3 per cent to 586 mn euros, despite organic sales growth of 6 per cent.
Organic sales growth in Asia was 21.7 per cent, and in Central America it was 17.1 per cent.
Ahold operates 9,000 supermarkets globally.
