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Inflation sparks 'solid' Q4 sales at Food Lion, Hannaford

Food price inflation helped U.S. banners Food Lion and Hannaford post "solid" sales gains in the fiscal fourth quarter, Belgium-based parent Delhaize Group said in preliminary financial results released Monday.

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

January 26, 2015

2 Min Read

Food price inflation helped U.S. banners Food Lion and Hannaford post “solid” sales gains in the fiscal fourth quarter, Belgium-based parent Delhaize Group said in preliminary financial results released Monday.

U.S. sales totaled $4.7 billion for the quarter and $17.8 billion in the fiscal year, Delhaize said. Excluding the effect of an extra week in the quarter and fiscal year, sales increased by 3.8% in the quarter and by 4.5% for the year.

The figures do not include results from the discount Bottom Dollar segment which has been reclassified as discontinued operations. Delhaize in November agreed to sell that unit to Aldi and expects the deal to close shortly.

Comparable-store sales for the quarter increased by 3.6% in the U.S., supported by inflation of 2.6%, Delhaize said.

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“Our fourth quarter revenues at Delhaize America were solid, partly helped by inflation, and both Food Lion and Hannaford reported positive real sales growth,” Delhazie CEO Frans Muller said in a statement.

Underlying operating margins were relatively stable in the U.S., Delhaize said. The trading update was based on preliminary unaudited figures. The company will release full results on March 5.

 

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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