AHOLD'S TOPS BANNER UNFURLED IN ASIA

JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia -- Ahold, Zaandam, the Netherlands, opened two Tops stores here this month -- its first supermarkets in Asia under the banner -- with its Malaysian joint-venture partner, Kuala Lumpur-based Perlis Plantations, Kuok Group.

nts for fish, poultry, tofu and baked goods; and an array of Tops private-label items.

In Asia, Ahold said it also plans to operate Tops supermarket chains in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, with store openings slated for the coming months. It also has started joint-venture talks in Shanghai, China.

"We now have close to 40 retail specialists from the Netherlands and the United States in the region, working closely with our partners in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia," said Eddie Moerk, a member of Ahold's corporate executive board. "It is our long-term goal to make Tops supermarkets the preferred food-shopping place for millions of consumers throughout Asia."