Ahold, Delhaize Divest 86 U.S. Stores To Advance Merger

Netherlands-based Ahold and Belgium-based Delhaize Group will divest 86 stores in the United States as they pursue a merger.

The divestments come in connection with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s pending review of the proposed merger between the two supermarket companies. Purchasers of the 86 stores are:

• New Albertson’s, which acquires one Ahold-owned Giant Food store, in Salisbury, MD.
• Big Y, which acquires eight Delhaize-owned Hannaford stores in eastern Massachusetts.
• Publix, which acquires 10 Ahold-owned Martin's stores in the Richmond, VA, market.
• Saubel’s Markets, which acquires one Delhaize-owned Food Lion store in York, PA.
• Supervalu, which acquires 22 Food Lion stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
• Tops Markets, which acquires four Ahold-owned Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts and New York, and two Hannaford stores in New York.
• Weis Markets, which acquires 38 Food Lion stores in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

The FTC must approve all purchases.

Delhaize Group operates 3,410 stores globally. In the U.S., it operates the Food Lion and Hannaford supermarket chains totaling just over 1,300 stores. Ahold operates 3,026 stores worldwide including, in the U.S., Stop & Shop, Giant Food, Giant Food Stores, Martin’s Food Markets, and online grocer Peapod. Its U.S. operation includes 770 stores and 210 product pick-up points.

“The combination of Ahold and Delhaize Group is a unique opportunity to deliver even more for customers, associates and local communities," said Dick Boer, Ahold CEO. "Together, Ahold and Delhaize Group have been working hard to resolve the competition concerns raised by the FTC, and we are pleased to have found strong, well established buyers for the stores we are required to divest. We deeply appreciate the long-time support of our customers and associates in these locations and are confident that the new owners will continue to serve local communities well.”