Delhaize America turns out positive Q2 results

SALISBURY, N.C. — New stores, higher retail inflation and positive calendar impact drove sales up for Delhaize America, the U.S. sector of the Delhaize Group, during the second quarter ended June 30.

The division, which operates such banners as Food Lion, Hannaford and Bottom Dollar Food, reported that revenues rose 4.3% to $4.9 billion, while comparable-store sales increased 1.6%. Operating profit, however, dropped 2.7% to $205 million.

The results are very encouraging, Delhaize Group president and CEO Pierre-Oliver Beckers said, as the supermarket conglomerate has put a great emphasis on its U.S. business with the relaunch of about 200 Food Lion stores in the Raleigh, N.C., and Chattanooga, Tenn., markets, in addition to the expansion of the Bottom Dollar Food banner, which is adding more stores in the greater Philadelphia market and also will break ground in the greater Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, markets, with 14 stores expected to open early next year.

At the end of June 2011, Delhaize Group operated 1,638 supermarkets in the United States.