Nov 18, 2009
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ahold today published its interim report for the third quarter of 2009. CEO John Rishton said: “We have again delivered solid results in a challenging environment. Volumes grew in all markets with good sales performance in the U.S., reflecting ongoing investment in value for our customers. In the Netherlands, we continued to grow market share and again delivered a strong margin reflecting effective cost management. We continue to adapt to the challenging environment, balancing sales and margins while seeking to grow market share and volumes.
“To continue to provide value to our customers, we have launched a new € 350 million cost reduction program for the three years ending in 2012. This program will focus on all aspects of our business, including store expenses, supply chain, and overhead across the group. Separately, we will deliver additional sourcing cost savings over the same period.
“On November 5, we announced organization changes to build a strong platform for growth and to provide even greater focus on our customers. We will pursue opportunities to grow within existing and new markets.”
