Ahold’s Q2 keeps company on track for full-year goals

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands — Ahold on Thursday reported results from Q2 and the first half of 2015. The company saw net sales of $9.7 billion (€8.6 billion) — a 17.1% increase over the same period last year. Its U.S. businesses saw net sales of  about $6 billion (€5.3 billion), which is an increase of about 22.5%, which is actually a decrease of 0.3% from the same period last year as a result of gas sales at constant exchange rates. Excluding gas, net sales were up 2.% from last year at constant exchange rates. 

 

Ahold CEO Dick Boer said that the company was pleased with its growth in sales and operating income, and that’s its focus in the U.S. would be improving customer experiences and growing its consistently increasing market share. 

 

“In the United States, we continue to focus on improving our customer proposition and remain on track with the implementation of our program to provide better quality and value to our customers,” Boer said. “For the fourth consecutive quarter, we grew volume market share in the United States and our margins were resilient, as a result of ongoing cost control.”

 

The company is also looking to continue growing its market share in the coming months with its conditional acquisition of 25 greater New York Stop & Shop stores from the now-bankrupt Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P). Another potential source of growth on the horizon is Ahold’s acquisition of Delhaize, which, though not expected to close until 2016, is on executives’ minds as they anticipate meeting the company’s full-year goals.

 

“Looking ahead, we remain confident in our outlook for the business and are on track to deliver a full-year performance in line with expectations,” Boer said. “We are excited about the agreement with Delhaize, which brings together two highly complementary businesses to create a stronger, international food retailer for the benefit of our customers, associates and shareholders."