Delhaize has this week announced its yearly results for 2009, with the Belgian group reporting on an overall revenue increase of 4.8 per cent at actual exchange rates, up to €19.9bn (US$28.9bn) from €19bn (US$27.5bn) last year.

The improvement was a result of solid revenue growth of 4.7 per cent at Delhaize Belgium, the continued 'outstanding performance' of Alfa-Beta in Greece where revenue jumped 10.2 per cent to €1.5bn, and growth in Romania and Indonesia of 15.5 per cent.

However, US revenues dropped 1.3 per cent at identical exchange rates as a result of the 53rd week included in 2008's results (a negative revenue impact of €258m/US$374m), while comparable store sales growth fell by 0.4 per cent , impacted by retail inflation of 0.5 per cent.

The group's worldwide store network increased by 59 through the year, Delhaize said, up to a total 2,732 outlets.

Through the fourth quarter of 2009, Delhaize saw revenues fall by 10.1 per cent at actual exchange rates to €4.9bn (US$7.1bn), with growth recorded in all sectors except the US.

'During the fourth quarter of 2009, we continued to see volume trend improvements compared with last year in all our operations due to our price investments and strong marketing campaigns, while cycling the highest inflation of the previous year,' said group president and CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers.

Delhaize will introduce a new US operational structure in 2010, Mr Beckers continued, while the company is planning to open 120-130 new stores and remodel approximately 100 outlets, with capital expenditure expected to amount to around €800m.

'All of these initiatives should position Delhaize Group to emerge from these difficult economic times not only as the highly profitable food retailer it already is today, but also as a much faster-growing food retailer,' he added.

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