A Royal centenary
In 1987, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands awarded Ahold the designation ‘Royal’ on the 100th anniversary of the very first store opening.
Two years later in 1989, the grandson of the founder, also called Albert Heijn, retired as company President after 27 years. He is succeeded by Pierre Everaert, the first non-family member to hold the position.
A new name
Further growth in 1973, both at home in the Netherlands and abroad, comes about with the founding of Ahold N.V., with Albert Heijn as prime subsidiary. The first specialty stores are liquor chain Alberto and the Etos stores selling health and beauty care products.
Ahold entered the U.S. market with the acquisition of the BI-LO supermarket chain in the Carolinas and Georgia in 1977. Further expansion came with the acquisition of Carlisle-based Giant Food Stores in 1981 and a third supermarket chain, Ohio-based Finast, in 1988.
The change to Royal Ahold and expansion into the U.S
Two decades of significant change saw the company move from its historic home and grow into an international operation.
In 1971, Albert Heijn finally said goodbye to the family grocer’s store and moved into new company headquarters in Zaandam.