Delhaize Group Creates Delhaize Europe

Delhaize Group, the Brussels-based international food retailer, has formed the Delhaize Europe organization, which will be led by Stéfan Descheemaeker, now EVP and CFO of Delhaize Group and a member of the Delhaize Group Executive Committee. Additionally, Dirk Van den Berghe, currently SVP logistics, procurement and quality at Delhaize Belgium, will become COO of Delhaize Belgium. Van den Berghe will succeed Michel Eeckhout, who will continue as EVP of Delhaize Group and a member of the Executive Committee.

Effective Jan. 1, 2012, Delhaize Europe will encompass the operations of Delhaize Belgium and Southeastern Europe. The organization’s aims are to enhance the collaboration between the European operating companies, fully leverage the scale of the European operations, generate cost savings, and facilitate the sharing of best practices to provide a stronger platform for local, regional and global growth. Delhaize Europe’s operating companies will benefit from Delhaize regional support services in the areas of finance, human resources, legal, IT and procurement.

Also effective Jan. 1, 2012, Delhaize Belgium, and Delhaize Group Southeastern Europe will report directly to Descheemaeker, who will remain as EVP of Delhaize Group and a member of the Executive Committee. A search to replace Descheemaeker as CFO of Delhaize Group is currently underway.

Executive Committee member Kostas Macheras will continue to lead the Southeastern Europe operations as CEO of the region, reporting to Descheemaeker as of Jan. 1, 2012. Also on that date, Van den Berghe will become CEO of Delhaize Belgium, reporting to Descheemaeker. As COO of Delhaize Belgium, Van den Berghe will report to Eeckhout until the end of 2011. As COO of Delhaize Belgium, Van den Berghe will oversee retail, procurement and wholesale operations, strategy, marketing, communication, corporate development and logistics.

“The creation of Delhaize Europe is an important step for Delhaize Group fully in line with our New Game Plan strategy,” said Pierre-Olivier Beckers, president and CEO of Delhaize Group. “The growth of our European operations, especially after the recent acquisition of Delta Maxi in Southeastern Europe and our learnings with the Delhaize America organization set up in early 2010, have convinced us to set up this structure dedicated to fully leverage the scale of the business, create synergies and share best practices while taking into account cultural and local differences in the region. The resulting benefits will provide additional resources to the European operating companies in support of their go-to-market strategies.”

Employing about 143 000 people, Delhaize Group is present in 11 countries on three continents.