Ahold Delhaize

Today's intense business climate raises the profiles of both strong and weak competitors. Here's a look at how some food retailers fared last year.

AMSTERDAM - Dutch retailer Ahold said today it had failed to reach an agreement to sell its controlling stake in the Argentine supermarket chain Disco to Chilean retailer Cencosud and had ended exclusive talks.

SAO PAULO, Brazil - A source close to the deal says Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is close to an agreement to purchase Bompreco, Brazil's third-biggest retailer, from Ahold, Reuters reports.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands - Ahold yesterday said it had established seven criteria that its new c.e.o. Anders Moberg would have to meet to receive a bonus for 2003.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands - Chilean retailer Cencosud S.A. has reached an agreement with Ahold for the acquisition of the Netherlands-based company's controlling stake in the Argentine supermarket chain Disco S.A.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands - Ahold said it has reached agreement to sell two Hypernova hypermarkets in Poland to Carrefour Poland for an undisclosed sum. The agreement will take effect on Nov. 18, 2003.

SAN FRANCISCO - Ahold on Friday said it plans to establish an "arena" combining two U.S. food chains, Stop & Shop and Giant Food of Landover, Md., as part of a three-year plan to restructure its global operations, Reuters reports.

ZAANDAM, Netherlands - Ahold today unveiled a strategy and funding plan designed to rebuild its value over the next three years. The plan includes divesting of retail operations that likely won't maintain the number one or two positions in their markets within three to five years.