Chilean supermarket chain Santa Isabel, which is controlled by troubled Dutch retailer Royal Ahold, has posted a loss for 2002 that was 168% greater than its loss in the previous year.


Santa Isabel, which did not provide an explanation for the losses, posted a 2002 consolidated net loss of 34.0bn pesos (US$46.6m), compared with a loss of 12.7bn pesos in 2001, reported Reuters.


Chilean regulators had suspended stock trading of Santa Isabel after the chain failed to post 2002 earnings by its Monday deadline. The regulators said trading will resume as of 9am on Friday [tomorrow].