Report: Ahold eyes expansion

Amsterdam, The Netherlands Dutch grocer Ahold NV said it’s ready to use its 2.6 billion euro ($3.7 billion) cash pile to make targeted acquisitions, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Ahold recently noted that it was appointing operational managers for Europe and the United States, where it runs Stop & Shop and Giant Landover, freeing up the board members responsible for those areas to spend more time on expansion projects.

The company plans to look at growing in its existing continents, and that a combination of acquisitions and organic growth is possible in markets where it is already active, or adjacent new markets.

The Wall Street Journal said the move was seen by analysts as a first step to end several years in which Ahold has underperformed the market.