Zaandam, Netherlands – Locally based Royal Ahold NV recently reported earnings of $294.7 million in the second quarter, an increase of 26.4% from earnings of $233.1 million in the prior-year period.
Sales increased 8% to $5.4 billion from $5 billion in retail stores in the United States. Domestic foodservice sales were up 64.7% to $2.8 billion from $1.7 billion. Revenues in Europe totaled $4.8 billion compared with $3.6 billion, a 33.3% gain. In Latin America and Asia, sales remained unchanged at $1.1 billion and $88 million, respectively.
Chairman and CEO Cees van der Hoeven said that Ahold is in talks with potential acquisition or merger partners. "We have a wish-list of potential thoroughbreds that we would like to add to our stable, and it is no secret that we are in active dialogue with a number of them," he says.