Royal Ahold Reports 4Q Decline

Zaandam, Netherlands, Royal Ahold reported that its fourth-quarter sales declined 3% to $16.3 billion, due mainly to the weak valuation of the U.S. dollar and the impact of the net sales of divested operations. Net sales at U.S. retail chains increased 10% to $6.9 billion for the fourth quarter, while the company’s U.S. Foodservice division saw sales rise 7.8% to $4.5 billion. Total sales for the full year fell 7% to $69 billion.