Ahold Acquisition in US Food Service Sector; Ahold's U.S. Foodservice Acquires GFG Foodservice, Market Leader in Dakotas and Northern Minnesota.

Business Editors

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 2000

Ahold (NYSE: AHO), the international food provider, today announced that U.S. Foodservice, its wholly-owned food service company in the United States, and GFG Foodservice, a broadline distributor and market leader in North Dakota, South Dakota and Northern Minnesota, have signed a definitive agreement whereby U.S. Foodservice will acquire 100% of GFG's shares and related real estate.

GFG generates sales of approximately USD 110 million. The profitable company is headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota. GFG services over 4,300 accounts, primarily restaurants, schools, universities and health care institutions, with a range of food and non-food items. The company also operates three distribution centers.

Remarks by Jim Miller, President & CEO, U.S. Foodservice

"We're delighted to welcome GFG into the U.S. Foodservice family," said Jim Miller, President & CEO of U.S. Foodservice. "GFG has a considerable reputation and we believe that GFG's strong management team will fully capitalize on the advantages that U.S. Foodservice provides. Together we look forward to providing GFG's customers with outstanding service in the years ahead."

Remarks by Jim Kennelly, Majority Owner GFG Foodservice

"Teaming up with U.S. Foodservice provides GFG with significant economies of scale and additional know-how to make our proposition to the customer even more attractive. We will be able to offer our customers various new services and products and we see excellent opportunities for new growth. The transaction with U.S. Foodservice is therefore clearly in the interest of all our stakeholders as it provides continuity and excellent opportunities for new successes."

U.S. Foodservice

U.S. Foodservice is the second-largest food distributor in the United States with annualized sales of approximately USD 8 billion and a nationwide reach through its 40 business centers. The company markets and distributes a wide range of national and proprietary brand items to over 130,000 foodservice customers, including restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, cafeterias and schools. U.S. Foodservice was acquired by Ahold in April 2000.

Ahold in United States and worldwide

In addition to U.S. Foodservice, Ahold operates in the United States over 1,000 supermarkets through five retail operating companies: Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover, Giant-Carlisle, Tops and BI-LO. Ahold's annualized sales in the US amount to USD 30 billion. Worldwide Ahold also has operations in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Including recent acquisitions, Ahold has annualized worldwide sales approaching USD 50 billion.

In addition to its listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AHO), Ahold's shares are trading on the Amsterdam Exchanges and on the Swiss Exchange. Additional information is available on Ahold's website: http://www.ahold.com.

Royal Ahold press releases may contain `forward-looking' statements. Actual results may differ from such statements as they may have been influenced by factors beyond the company's ability to control.