Delhaize Group sees 'strong' comp growth in U.S. during Q2

BELGIUM — Delhaize Group announced on Thursday that U.S. same-store sales for the second quarter increased 3.3%.



In the U.S., revenue growth in local currency was 4.7%, including a 0.8% positive calendar impact.



“Our operating performance in the second quarter was in line with our expectations. In the U.S., comparable store sales growth remained strong, driven by momentum at Food Lion and Hannaford. Our U.S. underlying operating profit began to stabilize as we started to cycle last year’s price investments,” stated Frans Muller, president and CEO of Delhaize Group.



For the Delhaize Group, revenues increased by 0.5% and 3.7% at actual and identical exchange rates, respectively. Organic revenue growth was 3.7%.



Net loss from continuing operations was €44 million compared with a net profit from continued operations of €107 million in last year’s second quarter. This resulted in a €0.44 basic loss per share compared with €1.07 basic earnings per share in the second quarter of 2013.