DELHAIZE AMERICA VOLUME, NET RISE IN QUARTER

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Delhaize America said sales grew 9% to $2.6 billion and same-store sales were up 8.5% for the 12-week quarter ended Sept. 11.

ampa, Fla. A third chain, Save 'n Pack, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kash n' Karry. Belgium-based Delhaize is Delhaize America's majority shareholder.

The holding company was formed to further Delhaize's newly aggressive consolidation strategy. The most important result of this strategy was the August announcement that the company planned to acquire Hannaford Bros., Scarborough, Maine, for $3.6 billion. The company said it expects to complete that acquisition in early 2000, pending regulatory approvals and a vote by Hannaford shareholders.

The results the company recently reported represent only figures from stores Delhaize America currently owns, and not from those that would be acquired in the pending deal with Hannaford.

Delhaize America said net earnings for the quarter were $73 million, an increase of 20% over 1998's third-quarter earnings, not including a $12 million tax refund the company received in the period last year.

Year-to-date, the company said sales were up 1.4% to $7.5 billion, same-store sales grew 2.3% and earnings rose 6.4% to $200 million.

Delhaize America said it opened 24 supermarkets and remodeled 43 stores in the quarter. As previously reported, the company plans to have opened 100 stores and remodeled another 140 by the end of 1999. This does not include the 155 stores operated by Hannaford.

Also as previously reported, Delhaize America said it converted 51 Food Lion supermarkets in Florida to the Kash n' Karry and Save 'n Pack formats during the third quarter.

And the company said again its plans for 2000 include adding 85 new stores and remodeling or expanding another 150 supermarkets.

"I am pleased with our continued sales and earnings increases in the past quarter," said Bill McCanless, Delhaize America's chief executive officer. "Our consistent increases show that our family of supermarket chains understand their customers' needs and continue to meet those needs."