Dutch retail giant Ahold has announced consolidated net sales (excluding VAT) of €12.0bn (US$15.2bn) for the third quarter, a decline of 7.9% compared to €13.0bn in the same period last year.
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The company said net sales for the 12 weeks to 3 October were significantly impacted by lower currency exchange rates, in particular that of the US dollar. Net sales excluding currency impact decreased by 2.4%. Additionally, net sales were impacted by divestments. Net sales growth excluding currency impact and the impact of divestments was 1.2% in the third quarter.
In the company’s US retail operations, net sales in the third quarter of 2004 declined by 1.3% to US$6.1bn compared to the same period last year. Net sales growth excluding the impact of the divestment of Golden Gallon in 2003 was 0.2%. Identical sales declined by 1.7% and comparable sales decreased by 1.0%, in US dollars.
In Europe, net sales in the third quarter were unchanged at €3.0bn. Excluding currency impact, net sales growth was 1.1% compared to the third quarter of last year. The company said Albert Heijn continued its successful repositioning programme, reporting identical sales growth of 3.1%, primarily due to a higher number of transactions compared to a weak third quarter last year.
Net sales at US Foodservice increased in US dollars by 2.9% to US$4.4bn. This rise was primarily attributable to food price inflation, although this inflation was lower than the previous quarter, partly offset by negative impacts due to hurricanes and national account customer rationalisation.
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By GlobalDataIn South America, net sales were €219m, down 57.1% from €511m in the same period last year, mainly due to the divestment of Bompreço in Brazil in the first quarter of 2004 and Santa Isabel in Chile, Paraguay and Peru in the second half of 2003.
Identical sales compare sales from exactly the same stores. Comparable sales are identical sales plus sales from replacement stores.
