DELHAIZE REALIGNS U.S. MANAGEMENT TEAM

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Delhaize Group here last week named Bill McCanless vice chairman of Delhaize America, Salisbury, N.C., removing him from day-to-day operations responsibilities.

ho remains president and chief operating officer of Food Lion.

Also, Anicetti and Ron Hodge, CEO, Hannaford Bros., now report directly to Pierre-Olivier Beckers, the CEO of Delhaize Group who was given the additional title of CEO, Delhaize America.

The new structure mirrors Delhaize's operations in other countries, said Ruth Kinzey, spokeswoman, Delhaize. She said McCanless would be "out of the day-to-day operations aspect" at Delhaize America and would "be able to focus his time on the strategic input." He remains on the Delhaize Group board of directors.

"The decision to streamline Delhaize America was a strategic one and based on the Group's desire to reduce the number of layers in the organization," Kinzey told SN. "The company believes each operation can respond even more quickly and accurately to changes in the marketplace as a result of flattening the organizational structure."