ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold here last week said sales at its U.S. retail division increased 4.8% in the first quarter, to $7.9 billion, compared with results from the year-ago period.
Bruno's, Giant Food (Landover, Md.), Giant Food (Carlisle, Pa.) and Bi-Lo chains in the United States, in addition to the Peapod online grocery service. Earlier this year, the company said it had overstated profits at its U.S. Foodservice subsidiary by about $880 million during the past three years because of improperly recorded vendor allowances, but the company said the problems did not extend to its U.S. retail operations.
Sales at U.S. Foodservice, which supplies restaurants and other institutions, slid 1.5% in the first quarter, to $5.3 billion, compared with year-ago results.
Total sales at Ahold in the 16-week first quarter, which ended April 20, were down 11.3% vs. year-ago levels, to $17.4 billion euros ($20.4 billion). Ahold also has operations in Europe, South America and Asia.
The company restated the sales results last week after finding "typing errors" in the results that were released the previous week, according to reports.
Ahold is expected to issue a more detailed earnings report later this year, following the conclusion of investigations into its accounting practices.
