Ahold 2002 sales rise 9.2% to Euro 72.7 billion.Business Editors ZAANDAM Zaandam (zändäm`), municipality (1991 est. pop. 130,000), North Holland prov., W Netherlands, near Amsterdam. Manufactures include food products, chemicals, lumber, and machinery. , The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2003 Ahold a·hold n. Hold; grip: "I knew I could make it all right if I got . . . back to the hotel and got ahold of that bottle of brandy" Jimmy Breslin. o Sales 2002 rise 9.2% to Euro 72.7 billion o Sales in the fourth quarter 0.3% higher at Euro 16.9 billion o Strong negative impact of lower currency rates o Earnings outlook reconfirmed Ahold, the international food retailer and foodservice operator, today reported 2002 sales of Euro 72.7 billion, a rise of 9.2% over the Euro 66.6 billion generated in 2001. Organic sales growth amounted to 3.2% for the year (2001: 6.1%). In the fourth quarter, sales amounted to Euro 16.9 billion, a 0.3% increase over the Euro 16.8 billion generated in 2001. Organic sales growth in the fourth quarter was 2.5% (2001: 4.0%). Consolidated sales in Euro were negatively impacted by the lower exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar and to a lesser extent by the devaluation devaluation, decreasing the value of one nation's currency relative to gold or the currencies of other nations. It is usually undertaken as a means of correcting a deficit in the balance of payments. of the Argentine Peso The peso (originally established as the nuevo peso argentino or peso convertible) is the currency of Argentina. Its ISO 4217 code is ARS, and the symbol used locally for it is $ (to avoid confusion, Argentines frequently use US$, and the Brazilian Real The real (IPA: [xe'aw] or [ʁe'aɫ], symbol: R$, ISO 4217 code: BRL, plural: reais) is the currency of Brazil. It is also the name of the earliest Brazilian currency (see from the Colonial period to 1942. . Ahold reconfirms that earnings per common share for 2002, excluding goodwill amortization, exceptional items and currency impact, are expected to decline 6-8%. Remarks by Ahold President & CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Cees van der Hoeven "2002 was a year of increasingly challenging trading conditions," said Cees van der Hoeven, Ahold President & CEO. "Sales slowed in the course of the year as a consequence of further deteriorating de·te·ri·o·rate v. de·te·ri·o·rat·ed, de·te·ri·o·rat·ing, de·te·ri·o·rates v.tr. To diminish or impair in quality, character, or value: economic circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or . However, we are encouraged by the fact that we strengthened our position in most markets. Compared to the third quarter, all regions showed slightly better organic sales growth. As announced on November 19, 2002, Ahold launched a three-year company-wide initiative focused on portfolio rationalization rationalization, in psychology: see defense mechanism. and debt reduction. This initiative is on track and we will comment periodically during the course of this year."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4th quarter
x 1 million Euro 2002 change 2001
(unless otherwise indicated) (12 weeks) in % (12 weeks)
------------------------------------
---------------------------------
Sales to third parties
- U.S. Retail (in dollars) 6,226.0 10.2 5,647.3
- U.S. Foodservice (in dollars) 3,898.2 24.2 3,137.6
- Europe 6,003.6 7.4 5,588.8
- Latin America 634.0 (50.5) 1,281.9
- Asia 117.2 8.5 108.0
------------- ------------
Total sales 16,864.2 0.3 16,810.0
============= ============
Weighted average exchange rates:
U.S. Dollar (USD) 1.00 (11.0) 1.12
Brazilian Real (BRL) 0.27 (39.0) 0.44
Argentine Peso (ARS) 0.28 (75.0) 1.12
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
full year
x 1 million Euro 2002 change 2001
(unless otherwise indicated) (52 weeks) in % (52 weeks)
------------------------------------
---------------------------------
Sales to third parties
- U.S. Retail (in dollars) 26,267.2 13.2 23,211.8
- U.S. Foodservice (in dollars) 17,415.8 43.5 12,133.8
- Europe 23,196.0 6.4 21,807.4
- Latin America 2,746.9 (43.9) 4,899.7
- Asia 456.5 14.3 399.5
------------- -------------
Total sales 72,741.0 9.2 66,593.1
============= =============
Weighted average exchange rates:
U.S. Dollar (USD) 1.06 (5.0) 1.12
Brazilian Real (BRL) 0.37 (23.0) 0.47
Argentine Peso (ARS) 0.34 (70.0) 1.12
---------------------------------------------------------------------
United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. - retail Sales rose both organically and as a result of the consolidation of Bruno's that took effect in December 2001. Organic U.S. retail sales growth amounted to 4.8% (2001: 6.2%). Identical U.S. retail sales growth totaled 0.9% (2001: 2.6%). Comparable U.S. retail sales growth was 1.6% (2001: 3.1%). Organic sales growth in the fourth quarter was 4.1% (2001: 3.7%). Identical sales growth in the same period totaled 1.0% (2001: decline of 0.4%) and comparable sales growth was 1.6% (2001: 0.1%) United States - foodservice Foodservice sales grew mainly due to the consolidation of Alliant with effect from December 2001. Organic sales declined by 1.9% (2001: increase of 10.4%). The company shed unprofitable business that was part of the Alliant portfolio, closed unprofitable facilities and rationalized distribution. Organic sales declined by 5.2% in the fourth quarter (2001: increase of 8.5%). Europe Organic sales growth amounted to 5.0% (2001: 6.7%). Organic sales growth in the fourth quarter was 5.2% (2001: 4.4%). Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. Sales in Euro were significantly lower as a result of the devaluation of several currencies, mainly the Argentine Peso and the Brazilian Real, as well as the deconsolidation of La Fragua. Organic sales growth was 5.6% (2001: 1.2%). Organic sales growth in the fourth quarter was 9.8% (2001: decline of 0.5%). Central America Central America, narrow, southernmost region (c.202,200 sq mi/523,698 sq km) of North America, linked to South America at Colombia. It separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. The non-consolidated sales of CARHCO amounted to Euro 1.6 billion (2001: Euro 0.7 billion). Asia Organic sales growth amounted to 17.2% (2001: 4.8%). Ahold Ahold implements a multi-format strategy focused on meeting the needs of 40 million customers every week in currently 27 countries on four continents. A close network of food retail and foodservice companies provide a superior shopping and service experience in the local market place. Under their own local brand names, Ahold companies operate approximately 9,000 supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores The following is a list of convenience stores organized by geographical location. Stores are grouped by the lowest heading that contains all locales in which the brands have significant presence. in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia. Ahold also has significant foodservice activities in the U.S. and in three European European emanating from or pertaining to Europe. European bat lyssavirus see lyssavirus. European beech tree fagussylvaticus. European blastomycosis see cryptococcosis. countries. Definitions o Organic sales [Sales year n] divided by [Sales year (n-1)(i) Ahold base + sales year (n-1)(i) of acquired companies(ii)] (i) Adjusted for currency impact. (ii) Applies to acquisitions dating back less than one year and to the extent that the sales of the acquired company represent > 5% of the sales of the acquiring entity, or that the acquisition is an entry into a new business channel or market area. o Identical sales compare sales from exactly the same stores. o Comparable sales are identical sales plus sales from replacement stores. o Currency impact is defined as the impact of using different exchange rates to translate the sales of our subsidiaries to Euros. The sales of the previous year are restated using the actual exchange rates in order to eliminate this currency impact. o Fiscal year: the 2002 fiscal year ended Sunday Sunday: see Sabbath; week. , December 29, 2002. o Fourth quarter: the 2002 fourth quarter ran from October 7 through December 29, 2002. Editors' note: As previously announced, Ahold will report its full-year 2002 results at 8:00 a.m. CET CET abbr. Central European Time CET Central European Time CET n abbr (= Central European Time) → hora de Europa central CET abbr on Wednesday, March 5, 2003. Ahold Corporate Communications Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. : +31.75.659.5720 For the investment community: Ahold Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. : +31.75.659.5828 The statement in this press release about the estimated earnings per share development is a "forward-looking statement forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. " within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws and is intended to be covered by the safe harbors Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. created thereby. This forward-looking statement is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual result to differ materially from the one expressed in the forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of general economic conditions and changes in interest rates in the countries in which Ahold operates, particularly in Latin American countries List of American countries Nations:
A price or interest rate change. in exchange rates between the Euro and the other currencies in which Ahold's assets, liabilities or results are denominated, in particular the U.S. Dollar and the Argentine Peso, can also influence the actual results as can other factors discussed in Ahold's public filings. Many of these factors are beyond Ahold's ability to control or estimate precisely. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statement, which only speaks as of the date of this press release. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see Ahold<180>s Annual Report on Form 20-F for its most recent fiscal year. Ahold does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Outside The Netherlands Koninklijke Ahold N.V., being its registered name, presents itself under the name of "Royal Ahold" or simply "Ahold." |
|
||||||||||||
Bahamas 
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion