AHO Koninklijke Ahold N V

Ahold today announced consolidated net sales of EUR 8.7 billion for the first quarter ending April 19, 2009. Compared to the first quarter of 2008, net sales increased by 15.2% or 6.2% at constant exchange rates.

In Europe and the United States, our performance remained solid and we continued to focus on striking a balance between sales growth, market share and margin. We remain well positioned to meet our customers' needs and to respond to competition in the current turbulent economic environment.

Sales performance

Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover

  * Net sales increased 3.6% to $5.3 billion.
  * Identical sales increased 3.1% at Stop & Shop (4.8% excluding
    gasoline net sales) and increased 3.6% at Giant-Landover (3.6%
    excluding gasoline net sales), despite lower pharmacy sales.
  * Comparable sales increased 3.6% at Stop & Shop and increased 4.0%
    at Giant-Landover.

Giant-Carlisle

  * Net sales increased 3.4% to $1.5 billion.
  * Identical sales increased 1.1% (4.3% excluding gasoline net
    sales).
  * Comparable sales increased 1.8%.

Albert Heijn

  * Net sales increased 12.3% to EUR 3.0 billion.
  * Net sales at Albert Heijn supermarkets were EUR 2.8 billion, up
    12.7% compared to last year, almost half of which is due to the
    conversion of former Schuitema stores into the Albert Heijn
    format during the second half of 2008 and early 2009.
  * Identical sales at Albert Heijn supermarkets increased 4.7%.

Albert/Hypernova (Czech Republic and Slovakia)

  * Net sales decreased 3.9% to EUR 491 million. At constant exchange
    rates, net sales increased 1.4%.
  * Identical sales increased 1.0% (2.0% excluding gasoline net
    sales).

Unconsolidated joint venture - ICA

  * Net sales decreased 9.0% to EUR 2.1 billion. At constant exchange
    rates, net sales increased 2.9%.



Net sales per segment


                                     Q1 2009   Q1 2008*   % Change
(in millions)
All segments (in euros)

Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover             4,056      3,403      19.2%
Giant-Carlisle                         1,114        936      19.0%
Ahold USA                              5,170      4,339      19.2%

Albert Heijn                           2,993      2,664      12.3%
Albert/Hypernova                         491        511     (3.9%)
Ahold Europe                           3,484      3,175       9.7%

Ahold Group                            8,654      7,514      15.2%

Unconsolidated joint venture - ICA     2,062      2,266     (9.0%)
Average U.S. dollar exchange rate
(EUR per USD)                         0.7622     0.6618      15.2%


U.S. segments (in U.S. dollars)

Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover             5,323      5,139       3.6%
Giant-Carlisle                         1,462      1,414       3.4%

* Due to changes in accounting policies applied retrospectively, comparative information has been changed. Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2008 decreased EUR 24 million as a result of the adoption of IFRIC 13 "Customer Loyalty Programs" and a reclassification of rent income previously included in net sales. See the notes below for more information.

Ahold Press Office: +31 (0)20 509 5291

Notes

The net sales figures presented in this trading statement are preliminary and unaudited.

Changes in accounting policies

* As of 2009, Ahold has adopted IFRIC 13 "Customer Loyalty Programs", which addresses accounting by entities that grant customer loyalty award credits to their customers. The adoption of IFRIC 13, which Ahold has applied retrospectively, resulted in a EUR 7 million decrease in net sales at Albert Heijn for the first quarter of 2008.

* As of 2009, rent income is recognized as part of selling expenses, whereas previously it was included in net sales. Comparative information has been changed accordingly, with the effect that net sales for the first quarter of 2008 decreased by EUR 17 million, predominantly at Albert Heijn.

Definitions

* Identical sales: net sales from exactly the same stores in local currency for the comparable period.

* Comparable sales: identical sales plus net sales from replacement stores in local currency.

* Constant exchange rates: excludes the impact of using different currency exchange rates to translate the financial information of certain of Ahold's subsidiaries or joint ventures to euros. For comparison purposes, the financial information of the previous year or quarter is adjusted using the average currency exchange rates for the current year or quarter in order to understand this currency impact.

Non-GAAP financial measures

This trading statement includes the following non-GAAP financial measures:

* Net sales, at constant exchange rates. Net sales, at constant exchange rates, exclude the impact of using different currency exchange rates to translate the financial information of certain Ahold subsidiaries or joint ventures to euros. Ahold's management believes this measure provides a better insight into the operating performance of Ahold's foreign subsidiaries or joint ventures.

* Net sales in local currency. In certain instances, net sales are presented in local currency. Ahold's management believes this measure provides a better insight into the operating performance of Ahold's foreign subsidiaries.

* Identical sales, excluding gasoline net sales. Because gasoline prices have experienced greater volatility than food prices, Ahold's management believes that by excluding gasoline net sales, this measure provides a better insight into the growth of its identical store sales.

Ahold's financial year

  * Ahold's financial year consists of 52 or 53 weeks and ends on the
    Sunday nearest to December 31.
  * Ahold's 2009 financial year consists of 53 weeks and ends on
    January 3, 2010. The quarters in 2009 are:

First Quarter (16 weeks)      December 29, 2008 through April 19,
                              2009
Second Quarter (12 weeks)     April 20 through July 12, 2009
Third Quarter (12 weeks)      July 13 through October 4, 2009
Fourth Quarter (13 weeks)     October 5, 2009 through January 3, 2010

Cautionary notice

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which do not refer to historical facts but refer to expectations based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those included in such statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements as to Ahold's sales growth, market share and margin and Ahold's response to consumer needs and competition behavior in the current economic environment. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Ahold's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as the effect of general economic or political conditions, rising food prices, fluctuations in exchange rates or interest rates, increases or changes in competition, Ahold's ability to implement and complete successfully its plans and strategies, the benefits from and resources generated by Ahold's plans and strategies being less than or different from those anticipated, changes in Ahold's liquidity needs, the actions of competitors and third parties and other factors discussed in Ahold's public filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Koninklijke Ahold N.V., which is Ahold's statutory name, does not assume any obligation to update any public information or forward-looking statements in this release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by securities law.

In the event of any discrepancy between the Dutch translation of this press release and the English version thereof, the latter prevails.

Please open the link below for the full version of the Trading Statement First Quarter 2009:

Ahold Trading Statement First Quarter 2009: http://hugin.info/130711/R/1311525/303719.pdf

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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