Ahold

AMSTERDAM — Ahold experienced several bright spots during its fourth quarter and full year, the Dutch supermarket company said.

Fourth-quarter net sales totaled $9.4 billion, a 4.5% increase above the year-ago period, while net sales for the year increased by 2.5% to $39.1 billion.

DULUTH, Ga. — The U.S. division of an Amsterdam-based supermarket conglomerate has tapped NCR for a solution to manage the stores' offers and promotions to customers.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced the sale of 16 of its Genuardi's stores in the greater Philadelphia area to Giant Food Stores, a division of Ahold USA. Safeway will continue to operate these stores until the transaction closes, and the company is working through an orderly transition for all of these stores.

In addition, Safeway plans to close three Genuardi's stores and sell the remaining eight Genuardi's stores, which it will continue to operate while it is working with potential buyers.

CARLISLE, Pa. — The New Jersey Retail Merchants Association has named Ahold USA director of pharmacy professional services David Sencabaugh the New Jersey Council of Chain Drug Stores 2011 Pharmacist of the Year, Ahold USA said Monday.

Ahold USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold, operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop supermarket chains, as well as the Peapod online grocery service.

TRENTON, N.J. — Six retailers on Wednesday filed suit naming Wyeth and Teva Pharmaceuticals as defendants and alleging that the defendants unlawfully delayed the entry of generic versions of Wyeth's antidepressant Effexor XR (venlafaxine). A summons was issued to Wyeth and Teva on Thursday.

The retailers include Ahold USA, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Supervalu and Walgreens. The companies are suing for three-times damages plus attorneys fees.

Wyeth was acquired by Pfizer in October 2009.

AMSTERDAM — Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold reported sales of $9.3 billion and profits of $347.8 million in third quarter 2011, the company said.

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. — A Giant Food location in Phoenixville, Pa., opened its new gas station Wednesday, Carlisle, Pa.-based Giant said.

Royal Ahold-owned Giant, also known as Giant-Carlisle — to distinguish it from Landover, Md.-based Giant Food, owned by the same company — said the station would have eight pumps.

CARLISLE, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold is hoping to attract local and diverse suppliers to its stores in the markets in which it operates.

Ahold USA said Thursday that it had its first annual Local/Diverse Business Opportunity Fair last month. The fair attracted participants from more than 140 companies that were given the opportunity to have their products reviewed by Ahold USA procurement teams for placement in more than 750 stores throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.