Delhaize America posts solid Q4 revenues

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Belgian international food retailer Delhaize Group, which operates about 1,300 stores in the United States, posted double-digit gains in fourth-quarter revenues in the United States.



In fourth-quarter 2014, revenues at Delhaize America increased by 12.1% to $4.7 billion including a 53rd trading week and excluding the results from Bottom Dollar Food, which are included in results from discontinued operations. The 53rd trading week resulted in a positive revenue contribution of $344 million



Comparable store sales growth was 3.6% supported by retail inflation of 2.6%. Both Food Lion and Hannaford continued to report positive sales growth, the company stated.



For the full year 2014, Delhaize America generated revenues of $17.7 billion, an increase of 6.6% compared with 2013 including a 53rd trading week. Excluding this extra week, 2014 revenues increased by 4.5% to $17.4 billion supported by comparable store sales growth of 4.4%.



On Nov. 6, Delhaize Group announced that it had signed an agreement to sell its 66 Bottom Dollar Food locations. It expects the transaction to be completed during first-quarter 2015.