Ahold reports increased sales

Dutch international retailer Ahold reported an increase of sales in the fourth quarter and for the full year 2014 in a trading statement on Thursday.

The consolidated net sales in the fourth quarter of 2014 were 8.061 billion euros (about 9.512 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 7.9 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. At constant exchange rates net sales were up 2.6 percent.

For the full year 2014, consolidated net sales were 32.774 billion euros, which was 0.5 higher than in the whole of 2013. At constant exchange rates net sales were up 0.8 percent.

In the United States, the net sales went down 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter to 4.789 billion euros, reflecting lower gas sales due to significant price deflation.

In the Netherlands, the net sales were 2.839 billion euros in the fourth quarter, an improvement of 4.5 percent compared to the same period last year. In the Czech Republic the Q4 net sales growth was 32.6 percent, amounting to a total of 433 million euros.

On Feb. 26 this year Ahold will present its annual report and all results of Q4 and the full year 2014.

Also on Thursday Ahold announced that Sander van der Laan, 46, Executive Committee member of Ahold and CEO of Albert Heijn (The Netherlands/Belgium/Germany department) agreed to step down as of Feb. 1, 2015. The departure is a result of disappointing performances in the past years.

Wouter Kolk, 48, currently Executive Vice President Specialty Stores and New Markets at Albert Heijn, will succeed him. Dick Boer maintained his position as CEO of Ahold. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars) Endit