Food Lion, Salisbury, N.C., announced 1996 earnings of $206 million on sales of $9 billion, an increase of 19.6% and 9.7% respectively, over 1995 figures. For the fourth quarter, ended Dec. 28, the company reported earnings of $66.6 million, up 21.2% over the year-ago quarter. Sales in the fourth quarter were $2.8 billion, up 9.4%.
