AHOLD CONSOLIDATES PRIVATE-LABEL WATER

CHANTILLY, Va. -- Bottled water is the latest private-label category to undergo companywide unification at Ahold USA here. All six of Ahold's operating companies -- Stop & Shop, Quincy, Mass.; Giant Food, Landover, Md.; Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pa.; Bi-Lo, Greenville, S.C.; Tops Friendly Markets, Williamsville, N.Y.; and Bruno's Supermarkets, Birmingham, Ala. -- will now offer one common Vermont spring water brand: Acadia. Acadia is already in stores in Stop & Shop, and will be available in the other operating companies within the next one to two months. In a recent circular, Stop & Shop promoted three sizes: six-, 12- and 15-packs of 24-ounce sport bottles. The 15-pack retailed for $3.99. Over the last year, Ahold has created companywide brands in several other private-label categories, including carbonated soft drinks, packaged coffee and salty snacks.