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Ahold: U.S. profits, share improve in 2Q

Ahold on Thursday reported flat U.S. second-quarter sales but an uptick in margins, profitability and market share as its ongoing cost reductions and investments in value take root.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

August 20, 2015

2 Min Read
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Ahold on Thursday reported flat U.S. second-quarter sales but an uptick in margins, profitability and market share as its ongoing cost reductions and investments in value take root.

U.S. sales for the period totaled $6 billion (U.S.), led by performance of Giant-Carlisle and Stop & Shop’s stores in the New York metro region, officials said. Excluding gas, net sales improved by 2.1% and non-fuel identical-store sales improved by 1.8%. Underlying operating income improved by 6.8% and margins were up slightly to 3.9% of sales in the US.

A strong sales performance in the Netherlands, and an online sales improvement of 22.8%, pushed total revenues up by 4.8% on constant exchange rates, the company said. Net income for the period improved 19% at constant exchange rates to $218.4 million (U.S.), the company added.

In a conference call discussing results, Ahold CEO Dick Boer acknowledged the company’s ongoing “Reshaping Retail” strategy was making slow but steady progress in the U.S., noting that volume market share has now grown for four consecutive quarters. That program, known internally as “Project Thunder,” uses cost reductions to fuel investment in pricing and store experience so as to build sales without large sacrifices in margin.

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Boer said the rollout of “Thunder” phase 1 pricing investments has been completed throughout all Ahold’s U.S. stores while phases 2 and 3 — investment in “super KVIs” and service and layout resets of produce departments, respectively — is continuing with both phases set to be complete by the end of 2016. Produce department revamps have been completed in 167 of the company’s 770 U.S. stores.

Ahold acknowledged its bid to acquire 25 stores in the New York metro area from bankrupt counterpart A&P, and said it anticipated investing between $2 million and $3 million per unit to covert them to the Stop & Shop banner following the proposed auction. Boer said he anticipated that those stores would see sales improve to the rates of Ahold's Stop & Shop stores in the region.

Boer said the company's merger with Delhaize was "on track" but declined to comment further.

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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