Ahold Delhaize

LAKELAND, Fla. - Publix Super Markets, based here, has plans to open about 57 new stores in 2004 and is intending to spend roughly $500 million on remodeling, expansion, and information technology costs, according to the Lakeland, Fla. Ledger.

AMSTERDAM - Ahold today announced it has appointed two people to fill key positions at its U.S. Foodservice unit.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Delhaize Group here, operator of Food Lion, Kash n' Karry, Hannaford Bros., and Harvey's supermarkets in the United States, reported an organic sales growth of 2.4 percent for 2003. However, total sales decreased by 9.0 percent to 18.8 billion euros, due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar by 16.4 percent against the euro.

TAMPA, Fla. - Kash n' Karry, the Florida-based supermarket company of Delhaize Group, announced on Monday the creation and rollout of a new supermarket concept in Florida called Sweetbay Supermarket.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced it has reached agreement on the sale of its stake in CRC.Ahold, operating in Thailand, to its partner, the Central Group. The divestment, which is effective immediately, is the final step in the overall sale of Ahold's Asian operations.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold today announced it has sold its Brazilian retail chain Bompreco to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Simultaneously, Ahold sold its Brazilian credit card operation Hipercard to Unibanco S.A.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - In conjunction with details pertaining to a new corporate governance code it recently adopted, Ahold said two of its seven supervisory board members would step down.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold is withdrawing from the South. Late yesterday the financially struggling chain said it intends to divest its Bi-Lo and Bruno's chains.