Netherlands-based retailer Ahold has published its interim report for the second quarter of the year, with sales jumping 11 per cent on a year-on-year basis (4 per cent at constant exchange rates) to hit €6.4bn, up from €5.8bn last year.
Operating income through the period rose 26 per cent to €295m, the group said, with net income falling 42.3 per cent to €195m from €338m last year.
'We had a strong second quarter with operating income up 26 per cent despite the challenging economic environment,' said CEO John Rishton. 'Albert Heijn operating income was up 9 per cent to €150m from last year.
Meanwhile, in the US, operating income at the company's Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover operations increased 60 per cent to reach US$200m.
'We remain well positioned in an increasingly competitive environment to deliver our strategy for profitable growth and manage the balance between sales and margins,' Mr Rishton added.
