Dutch retail chain Ahold Delhaize increased its net sales in the second quarter by 6.5 percent year-on-year to EUR 23.1 billion (CZK 568 billion) at constant exchange rates. The acquisition of Romanian food retailer Profi contributed to this result. The company announced this in a statement today and confirmed its full-year outlook.
Sales growth and operating results
The underlying operating margin for the period from April to June was 4%, representing a slight decline of 0.2 percentage points at constant exchange rates. Although this is a slight deterioration, the result was fully in line with the expectations of analysts surveyed by Reuters. The company benefited in particular from the good performance of its European stores, where it recorded stable growth and improved operating efficiency.
In the US, the company continued to make strategic investments aimed at accelerating growth in the coming years. However, further sales growth was hampered by certain one-off factors, in particular the closure of some Stop & Shop stores and the discontinuation of tobacco sales in the Netherlands and Belgium. Although these measures will reduce sales in the short term, they are part of a long-term strategy focused on a healthier product range and the modernization of the sales network.
Online sales and the Czech market
Ahold continues to expand its online sales. Online sales grew by 14.4 percent in the second quarter at constant exchange rates. Online grocery sales grew by double digits in both the US and Europe.
The Dutch company entered the Czech market in 1990, and in 2016, Ahold merged with the Belgian retail company Delhaize, which was also operating on the Czech market at the time. Ahold is now one of the largest private employers in the Czech Republic.
Source: ÄŒTK
