Ahold Delhaize

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Thanks to ongoing cost-cutting and new in-store initiatives at its U.S. banners, the Delhaize Group here saw 5.3 percent sales growth and a net profit increase of 66.7 percent for the fourth quarter. For the year, sales grew 4.2 percent, while net profit was up 23.4 percent.

AMSTERDAM -- Confidential letters will prove that four former Royal Ahold top executives, including the onetime c.e.o., perjured themselves, a prosecutor said today in opening arguments in the trial of the four men, who have been charged with, among other things, falsely reporting sales from Ahold subsidiaries in Scandinavia and Latin America as part of a scandal that helped plunge the retail conglomerate into financial chaos. The four defendants maintain their innocence.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- For a fifth consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will recognize Food Lion here with an Energy Star partner award, the retailer said yesterday.

CHICAGO -- Internet grocer Peapod, LLC, based here, and Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop are expanding their online grocery purchasing and delivery service to more areas on Long Island, NY, with deliveries starting March 6.

Some supermarket operators are gaining the expertise needed to make their stores more health-minded destinations -- but there's no miracle diet plan.

AMSTERDAM -- Ahold said yesterday that Marc Smith, c.e.o. of Ahold's Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover Arena, based in Quincy, Mass., will retire. The company said Smith will stay on for an indefinite period of time to allow for a smooth transition, and added that it has launched an internal and external search for Smith's successor.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Sweetbay and Kash n' Karry, the dual regional banners based here and operated by Delhaize America, now have a c.e.o.; Shelley G. Broader, formerly president and c.o.o. at the supermarket chains, has been promoted to the chief executive position after leading the successful creation of the Sweetbay concept, a completely new shopping experience for Florida shoppers.

Tchnology is the new labor management tool of choice for cutting costs, but it also has to keep employees and customers happy.