Delhaize Posts Q2 U.S. Revenue, Comps Increases

For the second quarter of 2015, Delhaize Group’s revenues increased by 18.1 percent and 3.2 percent at actual and identical exchange rates, respectively, the latter figure equaling organic revenue growth.

At Delhaize Group-owned stores in the United States, Q2 revenues grew 3.2 percent to $4.5 billion, while comparable-store sales rose 2.5 percent, excluding a positive calendar impact of 0.7 percent. Both Food Lion and Hannaford posted positive comparable-store and real growth, despite 0.9 percent of retail deflation for Delhaize Group's U.S. operations overall. The company attributed this growth primarily to price declines in dairy, pork, seafood and produce.

During the first half of 2015, Delhaize Group's revenues increased 17 percent and 2.7 percent at actual and identical exchange rates, respectively, with organic revenue growth also at 2.7 percent. In the United States, revenue rose 3.2 percent in local currency and U.S. comps grew 2.5 percent, excluding a 0.6 percent positive calendar impact.

After remarking on Delhaize Group's "solid performance" in Q2 2015, Frans Muller, president and CEO of the Brussels-based retail conglomerate, noted: "With 3.4 percent real growth, Delhaize America experienced continued sales momentum both at Food Lion and at Hannaford.”

Muller added that "at Food Lion, we remain on schedule to launch our 'Easy, Fresh and Affordable' strategy in the Raleigh [N.C.] market in the fourth quarter of this year. Our first half-year performance puts us in a good position to realize our ambitions for the year, and we are looking forward to merging our operations with Ahold as announced on June 24, 2015."