AHOLD HAS GAINS IN SALES, NET

ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold here had sharp sales and earnings gains in the first quarter ended April 21.

per dollar), Ahold reported. Net earnings jumped 15.7% to $83.88 million (138.4 million guilders). U.S. supermarket sales, through Ahold USA, Atlanta, climbed 15.7% to $2.8 billion from $2.4 billion. U.S. operating results increased 15.4% to $65.1 million from $56.4 million in the period. Driving the strong U.S. performance were Edwards Super Food Stores, Windsor Locks, Conn., partly due to the integration of Mayfair stores; Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pa., and Tops Markets, Buffalo, N.Y. Heightened competition curbed sales growth and trimmed operating results at Finast, Maple Heights, Ohio, and Bi-Lo, Mauldin, S.C., Ahold said.