Belgian retail group Delhaize has announced plans to open up to 81 new stores this year, including 30 in its core Belgian market, following positive full year results.

According to the retailer, like-for-like sales at its Belgian outlets increased by 2.2 per cent during 2008 compared with the previous year and by 2.5 per cent at its US stores.

The fourth quarter of 2008 also saw Belgian sales rise by 2.2 per cent, while US sales increased by 2.9 per cent compared with the same period a year before.

During 2008, Delhaize achieved overall revenues of €19bn, which it said represented an increase of 5.6 per cent compared with 2007 on identical exchange rates.

In a statement, the retailer said it planned to build on last year’s achievements by opening between 71 to 81 new stores this year, which could take its entire retail network to as many as 2,754 outlets by the end of 2009.

Delhaize said it would also be closing seven underperforming Sweetbay stores in the US and four supermarkets in Germany.

Delhaize Group president and CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers said: “Despite the uncertain economic environment, we are confident that our many initiatives will continue to deliver benefits in 2009. Special attention will be given to our private brand offering and price competitiveness.

“Our decision to close a number of Sweetbay stores and to divest our four German stores will have a positive effect on our ongoing profitability. All of these initiatives should position Delhaize Group to come out of these difficult economic times as an even stronger company.”

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