Salisbury, NC Delhaize America, Inc. (NYSE:
DZA,
DZB) announced today unaudited fourth quarter and fiscal 1999 sales of $3.4 billion and $10.9 billion, respectively. Total sales for the fourth quarter and fiscal 1999 increased 6.2 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively over the prior year. Same store sales increased 0.8 percent for the quarter and 1.8 percent for the year.
Sales for the fourth quarter and year are as follows:
| Period Ended |
January 1, 2000 |
January 2, 1999 |
| Fourth Quarter |
$3,378,453,379 |
$3,181,818,581 |
| Year to Date |
$10,878,684,265 |
$10,219,473,567 |
Number of Stores
at Year End |
1,276 |
1,207 |
The fourth quarter same store sales figure was affected by the return to normal store hours of 352 Food Lion stores from previous 24-hour operation and the disruption caused by the continuing program to remodel 51 former Food Lion stores in Florida to the Kash n' Karry format. If these events were not included in fourth quarter growth figures, same store sales growth would have been 1.8 percent for the quarter as well. The impact of these events on the Company's profits for the fourth quarter is negligible.
Delhaize America added 100 new stores in 1999, including 94 Food Lion stores and six supermarkets under the Kash n' Karry banner. The Company relocated 21 stores and closed five Food Lion and five Kash n' Karry stores. The Company remodeled 145 supermarkets, including 137 Food Lion and eight Kash n' Karry stores.
The Company will announce fourth quarter and 1999 earnings on Thursday, February 10, 2000.
Delhaize America is one of the nation's largest supermarket companies. The Company and its more than 99,000 employees serve more than 10 million customers a week at 1,136 Food Lion and 140 Kash n' Karry and Save 'n Pack supermarkets. Delhaize America is proceeding with plans to purchase Hannaford Bros. Co., which entered into an agreement on August 18, 1999 to be acquired by the Company. With the addition of Hannaford, Delhaize America will have over 1,400 stores throughout the eastern United States from Maine to Florida, with total projected annual revenue for 2000 of approximately $15 billion and more than 116,000 full-time and part-time employees.
Contact: Chris Ahearn (704) 633-8250, Ext. 2892