Ahold USA consolidates accounting departments of its five US supermarket chains; New Financial Service Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

ZAANDAM, The Netherlands & ATLANTA, Ga. USA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- March 9, 1999--Ahold USA Inc., US headquarters of international food retailer Royal Ahold (NYSE: AHO), announced today the consolidation of its five US operating companies' accounting departments into a single financial service center named Ahold Financial Services.

"A consolidated Financial Service Center allows us to capitalize on the economies of scale achieved by owning five separate supermarket chains in the US," said Bob Tobin, President and CEO of Ahold USA. "The Financial Service Center strengthens our competitive position and also will assist us with the integration of new acquisitions."

Reduction overall expenses

Once the consolidation of all five accounting departments into one center is completed, annual savings will allow Ahold USA to reduce overall expenses. The consolidation of selected financial processes for Ahold's five US operating companies improves operating efficiencies and strengthens Ahold USA's position in its markets.

"Ahold will continue to leverage its knowledge, expertise and synergies to remain a leader in the food retail industry," said Tobin.

Ahold Financial Services will be located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where Ahold also has its Giant - Carlisle company. The new center is expected to begin operations by year-end 1999. Brian Fields has been appointed Vice President of Ahold Financial Services. He will report to Ahold USA, Inc. located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Royal Ahold is the rapidly growing international food retailer with leading supermarket chains in The Netherlands, other European countries, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the United States (BI-LO, Mauldin, South Carolina; Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Giant Food, Landover, Maryland; Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, Quincy, Massachusetts; Tops Markets, Williamsville, New York).

Royal Ahold has annualized sales of over $30 billion.

In the US annualized sales amount to $20 billion. Ahold is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AHO. Ahold USA employs approximately 130,000 associates.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. The Company's performance is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and changes in interest rates in the countries in which the Company operates, increases in competition, and fluctuations in exchange rates between the Guilder and the other currencies in which the Company's assets, liabilities and results are denominated, in particular, the U.S. dollar. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see Royal Ahold's Annual Report on Form 20-F for its fiscal year ended December 29, 1997.