Professional Woman's Magazine recognizes Ahold USA's diversity efforts

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has won accolades for working with diverse and women-owned businesses, the supermarket operator said Wednesday.

Ahold, which owns the Stop & Shop, Giant-Carlisle and Giant-Landover supermarket banners and the Peapod online grocery service, said Professional Woman's Magazine had named it among the "Top Supplier Diversity Programs for Women" for 2013. The magazine has ranked companies in this way for 14 years.

"As a responsible retailer, we continue to maintain our strong commitment to developing business opportunities with women and minority-owned companies who can supply their products and services to our customers," Ahold USA SVP sales development Jodie Daubert said. "We're pleased to be nationally recognized by Professional Woman's Magazine and proud to work with these companies to offer their products and services in our stores."

Efforts by the company include sponsoring annual businesses fairs that emphasize local and diverse companies; this year's fairs took place on Feb. 6 in Quincy, Mass., and on Sept. 11 in Carlisle, Pa. Eight-one companies, many headquartered in the area served by Ahold USA's stores, participated in the fairs.