Delhaize Group Continues Strong Revenue Growth in Third Quarter
November 08 2007 - 2:00AM
Marketwired
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM * Confirmation of Group revenue and profit
guidance
CEO Comments
"In the third quarter of 2007, Delhaize Group realized a robust
revenue performance and maintained its strong operating margins
despite comparing to last year's exceptionally strong quarter",
said Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Delhaize Group.
"We are particularly happy with the excellent performance of our
operations in the U.S. We realized 4.6% U.S. comparable store sales
growth, the highest since 2000 and continued to grow our U.S.
operating margins. Revenue growth at both Food Lion and Hannaford
stayed strong, particularly through increasing customer traffic.
Sweetbay realized its best comparable store sales growth since the
launch of the conversion project, showing encouraging signs in the
rebranding of our Florida business."
"In Belgium, intense competition, exceptionally bad summer
weather and the sale of our beauty and body care business Di
impacted our sales growth, although we still realized positive
sales growth against the strongest quarter of 2006. We are
positioning ourselves for better sales dynamics by investing
significantly in our price position despite the temporary negative
margin impact. Our Greek, Romanian and Indonesian operations
continued their positive growth in revenues and profits."
CONTACTS
Guy Elewaut: + 32 2 412 29 48
Geert Verellen: + 32 2 412 83 62
Geoffroy d'Oultremont: + 32 2 412 83 21
Liesbeth Driesen: + 32 2 412 86 69
Amy Shue: + 1 704 633 82 50 (ext. 2529)
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