Ahold Delhaize unveils ‘Better Together’ strategy

LONDON — Ahold Delhaize introduced its “Better Together” strategy, intended to capture benefits of international scale combined with local brands and associate expertise to drive profitable growth in its supermarkets, ecommerce and smaller formats, during its Capital Markets Day here Wednesday.

“Our Better Together strategy will enable us to drive profitable growth and deliver the benefits of international scale, combining great local brands and local associate experience while driving savings and investments to benefit customers, and create value for shareholders,” the company stated in a news release. “It encapsulates our purpose, with clear promises to customers, associates and communities and with values that drive our actions. It is completed by the sustainable business model, with three key pillars:

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  Save for our customers: Buy better, operate smarter, waste less;


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  Invest in our customer proposition: Affordable for all, best own brands, fresher and healthier, most local and personal service; and


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  Funding growth in key channels: supermarkets, ecommerce and smaller formats.”

 "We are excited to share our Better Together strategy, which builds naturally on our combined strong performance as well as the strong foundations of the local brands in our group,” said Dick Boer, CEO of Ahold. “Guided by this common compass, we will continue to improve our family of brands to be a better place to shop, a better place to work, and a better neighbor, every day. We are meeting the needs of customers today and anticipating those of tomorrow, by providing more value, quality and convenience.”

Zeroing in specifically on its U.S. holdings, Boer revealed during the event that Ahold’s Food Lion division continues to “win” with its “Easy, Fresh and Affordable” strategy, which will roll out to an additional 160 stores in 2017, bringing the total to 540 stores, or 55% of total Food Lion stores. This strategy, which debuted in 2014, involves providing a greater selection of items based on customer feedback, remodeling stores and making sure it puts customers first.

Ahold USA is also “building momentum” with its “Heading Northeast” strategy, as its investments in pricing, service and quality pay off with gains in its customer perception and sales volume increases, the company stated.