Netherlands-based group Ahold has reported net sales of €7.5bn for the first quarter ended 20 April 2008, an overall drop of 1.3 per cent when compared with 2007. The Albert Heijn chain saw overall sales increase by 13.5 per cent to f2.7bn, while sales at the group’s Czech Republic and Slovakian operation jumped by 18 per cent to €512m.