Hurricane Sandy efforts drive Ahold 4Q sales

AMSTERDAM — Ahold reported sales of $10.4 billion for fourth quarter 2012 and $43.6 billion for the entire fiscal year, the company said in an earnings report.

That marked a 7.5% sales increase compared with fourth quarter 2011 and an 8.5% increase compared with fiscal year 2011, respectively.

The company's U.S. business — which includes the Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle supermarket banners and the Peapod online grocery service — had sales of $6.1 billion during the quarter and $25.8 billion for the year, representing sales increases of 4.3% and 3.1% over fourth quarter 2011 and fiscal year 2011, respectively. The company said the increase in U.S. sales for the quarter was driven partly by its efforts to keep stores open during Hurricane Sandy. Comps for the quarter increased by 2.8% and increased 1.9% for the fiscal year.