AHOLD TAPS PRESIDENT, CEO FOR GIANT

ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold here said last week it has named Richard A. Baird president and chief executive officer of Giant Food, Landover, Md., effective Jan. 2.

income for the third quarter and 40 weeks ended Oct. 4.

Baird will succeed Pete Manos, who has announced his retirement.

Baird, 56, is currently executive vice president of Stop & Shop Cos., Quincy, Mass., another Ahold subsidiary. He joined the company in 1972 as assistant controller and subsequently was director of analytical support, director of inventory replenishment and vice president of technical services.

In 1993 he was named senior vice president of technical services, with responsibilities for construction and engineering, and became a member of Stop & Shop's executive committee.

After the company's merger with Ahold in March 1997, Baird was named executive vice president of operations and construction.

According to Bob Tobin, president and chief executive officer of Ahold USA, Atlanta, "Dick's all-around experience, leadership capabilities, open management style and his way with people make him the ideal president/CEO of Giant Food as it enters a new phase of development within the Ahold group."

In another appointment last week, Ahold named a new member to its supervisory board: Lodewijk J.R. de Vink, president and chief operating officer of Warner-Lambert Co., Morris Plains, N.J. He succeeds R.J. Bogomolny, who retired in May.

In reporting financial results for the third quarter and 40 weeks, Ahold said Giant Food's results will be consolidated in the fourth quarter.

U.S. sales rose 4.6% to $3.5 billion for the 12-week quarter and 4.6% to $11.4 billion for the 40-week period. The company said Stop & Shop and Giant Food achieved higher sales, while sales at Bi-Lo and Tops were flat.

Operating income in the United States increased 18.1% to $145.8 million for the quarter and 15.8% to $492.2 million for the year to date. The company said operating results were "strongly higher" at Stop & Shop and Tops, "slightly higher" at Bi-Lo and almost identical at Giant.

Ahold said sales for the total company were up 2.4% to $6.4 billion U.S. (at an exchange rate of $1 equals 1.97 guilders) for the quarter and 9.6% to $20.6 billion for the 40 weeks, while overall net income rose 22.3% to $130.2 million for the quarter and 26% to $406.4 million for the year to date.