Koninklijke Ahold NV (AHODF.PK, AHONY.PK) on Thursday reported a 4.5 percent rise in sales for the fourth quarter in which the supermarket chain saw improved market share in the U.S. and the Netherlands. The company said it is well positioned in a challenging economy, but customers continue to be cautious about their spending.
The food retailer's consolidated net sales rose to 7.29 billion euros from 6.98 billion euros in the prior-year quarter. At constant exchange rates, net sales grew 4.3 percent.
In Ahold USA, sales grew 5 percent to $5.89 billion. Identical sales increased 3.9 percent and were up 2.9 percent when gasoline is excluded. Comparable store sales grew 4.2 percent.
In the Netherlands, sales advanced 4.3 percent to 2.51 billion euros and identical sales increased 2.9 percent.
Ahold Europe reported a 3.1 percent sales growth at 2.92 billion euros, while Rest of Europe posted a 3.5 percent drop in sales to 413 million euros. Identical sales slipped 1.5 percent in Rest of Europe, which include Czech Republic and Slovakia.
For the full year 2011, consolidated net sales advanced 2.5 percent to 30.3 billion euros. On a currency-neutral basis, net sales increased 5.5 percent.
"We are pleased to have delivered another solid performance over the quarter, growing sales and market share in the United States and the Netherlands. We continue to be well positioned in challenging market conditions with customers remaining cautious in their spending," Ahold said in the statement.
Ahold shares closed in Amsterdam on Wednesday higher by 0.88 percent at 10.27 euros on 2.55 million shares.
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