Ahold 4Q U.S. sales reach $5 billion

AMSTERDAM Ahold today reported total net sales for its U.S. segments of $5 billion for the fourth quarter compared with net sales of $4.8 billion for the same period last year.

For its Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover division, the company reported net sales of $3.9 billion for the quarter, a 2% increase over sales of $3.8 billion last year. The Giant-Carlisle division posted a net sales increase of 8.6% to $1 billion from $951 million last year.

According to Ahold, economic instability in the United States did not have a significant impact on local market conditions. Price investments related to the further roll-out of the Value Improvement Program, launched in September 2006 at Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover, will continue to impact margins, the company reported.