Troubled Dutch retailer Royal Ahold has reported an 11.3% decline in first-quarter sales due to a difficult trading environment and foreign currency effects.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The retailer reported consolidated sales for the first quarter to 20 April of €17.4bn (US$19.9bn), compared to €19.6bn in the year-ago period. Analysts polled by Reuters had been expecting sales of €18.9bn.

Ahold said sales excluding currency impact increased by 4.6% and organic sales growth excluding currency impact was 2.7%. Ahold’s sales results exclude sales of joint ventures and were unaudited.

In the US, Ahold’s retail sales rose 4.8% to US$8.3bn, while organic sales growth was also 4.8%. Comparable sales growth for the quarter was 2.4% and identical sales growth was 1.5%.

Sales at Ahold’s US foodservice operations slid 1.5% to $5.3bn.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

In Europe, Ahold’s sales rose 2.6% to €4.1bn. Organic sales growth, excluding currency impact was 2.7%.

In South America, where Ahold has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru, sales were up 42.7% to €580m, mainly due to the acquisition of the remaining shares of Disco. Organic sales growth, excluding currency impact, was 12.1%.

In Asia, where Ahold has operations in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, sales were down 10.0% to €109m in the first quarter. Organic sales growth, excluding currency impact, was 7.6%.

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now