View source for Ahold

{{Short description|Former Dutch multinational retail company}}
{{Lead too short|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Koninklijke Ahold N.V.
| logo = Ahold.svg
| image = Albert Heijn Headquarters by Niels Kim.jpg
| image_alt = The former Ahold headquarters in Zaandam, Netherlands.
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = The former Ahold headquarters in Zaandam, Netherlands (now headquarters of [[Ahold Delhaize]])
| type = [[Public company|Public]] ([[Naamloze vennootschap|N.V.]])
| traded_as = [[Euronext Amsterdam]]: AH
| fate = Merged with [[Delhaize Group|Delhaize]]
| successor = [[Ahold Delhaize]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1887|p=y}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|df=yes|2016|7|24}}
| location = [[Zaandam]], Netherlands
| locations = 3,206
| key_people = {{Plain list|
* [[Frans Muller]] <small>(CEO)</small>
* Jan Hommen <small>(Chairman of the [[Supervisory Board]])</small>
}}
| industry = [[Retail]]
| services = Convenience/forecourt store, [[discount store]], [[drug store]]/[[pharmacy]], [[hypermarket]]/[[supercenter]]/[[superstore]], other specialty, [[supermarket]], online retailer
| revenue = [[Euro|€]]38.2&nbsp;billion (2015)<ref name="Trading Statement">{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.ahold.com/web/file?uuid=4cb3fadc-da3a-4165-81e5-4fc80f0e4fe7&owner=f6216a8f-4a2d-494f-8168-ae6cd1765756&contentid=3046
 |title=Annual Report 2015 
 |access-date=23 May 2016 
 |publisher=Royal Ahold 
}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| operating_income = €1.3&nbsp;billion (2015)<ref name="Trading Statement" />
| net_income = €0.85&nbsp;billion (2015)<ref name="Trading Statement" />
| assets = €15.88&nbsp;billion (2015)<ref name="Trading Statement" />
| equity = €5.62&nbsp;billion (2015)<ref name="Trading Statement" />
| num_employees = 236,000 (2015)<ref name="Trading Statement" />
| homepage = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20160516131215/https://www.ahold.com/|www.ahold.com}}
}}

'''Koninklijke Ahold N.V.''' was a Dutch multinational [[retail]] company based in [[Zaandam]], [[Netherlands]].  Founded in 1887 by [[Albert Heijn (businessman)|Albert Heijn Sr]]., the company initially began as a single grocery store in [[Oostzaan]] and became the largest grocery chain in the Netherlands in the 1970s. The company went public in 1948. It merged with [[Belgium]]-based [[Delhaize Group]] in 2016 to form [[Ahold Delhaize]].

==History==

===Growth in the Netherlands===
The company started in 1887, when Albert Heijn Sr. opened the first [[Albert Heijn]] grocery store in Oostzaan, Netherlands. The grocery chain expanded through the first half of the 20th century and went public in 1948.

Under the leadership of the founder's grandsons, [[Albert Heijn (born 1927)|Albert Jr.]] and Gerrit Jan Heijn, the company continued to make a significant impact on food retail in the Netherlands in the next four decades, pioneering self-service shopping and the development of [[private label]]s and of non-food as a grocery store category. The company also influenced culinary development in the country, popularizing products such as wine, sherry, and kiwi fruit, contributing to the introduction of the refrigerator in Dutch households, and introducing convenience items, such as ready meals and frozen pizzas, to Dutch consumers.

Albert Heijn became the largest grocery chain in the Netherlands during this time and expanded into liquor stores and health and beauty care stores in the 1970s. In 1973, the holding company Albert Heijn changed its name to "Ahold", an abbreviation of '''A'''lbert '''H'''eijn '''Hold'''ing".<ref name="Albert Heijn memorial site">{{Cite web |url=http://inmemoriam.ahold.com/ |title=Albert Heijn memorial site |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref><ref name="Ahold history">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/About-us/Our-history.htm |title=Ahold history |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217123256/https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm%23!/About-us/Our-history.htm#!/About-us/Our-history.htm |archive-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===International expansion===
In the 1970s, the company began expanding internationally, acquiring companies in Spain and the United States. Under a new leadership team, which for the first time did not include any members of the Heijn family, the company accelerated its growth through acquisitions in the latter half of the 1990s in Latin America, Central Europe, and Asia.

Ahold N.V. received the designation "Royal" from Dutch Queen Beatrix in 1987, awarded to companies that have operated honorably for one hundred years.<ref name="List of company name etymologies">[[List of company name etymologies#cite note-15]]</ref> That same year [[Gerrit Jan Heijn]], Ahold executive and only brother of Albert Heijn, was kidnapped for ransom and murdered.<ref name="Albert Heijn memorial site" />

===Accounting crisis===
The announcement of accounting irregularities at some of Ahold's subsidiaries in February 2003 halted the company's ambitious global expansion. The CEO, Cees van der Hoeven, and CFO, Michael Meurs, and a number of senior management resigned as a result, and earnings over 2001 and 2002 had to be restated. The main accounting irregularities occurred at [[US Foods|U.S. Foodservice (now US Foods)]] and, on a smaller scale, [[Tops Friendly Markets|Tops Markets]] in the United States, where income related to promotional allowances was overstated. In addition, accounting irregularities were found at the company's Argentine subsidiary, [[Disco (supermarket chain)|Disco]], and it was determined that the financial results of certain joint ventures had been accounted for improperly.<ref name="Ahold announces significantly reduced earnings expected for 2002">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Ahold-announces-significantly-reduced-earnings-expected-for-2002.htm |title=Ahold announces significantly reduced earnings expected for 2002 |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref>

As a result of the announcements, the company's share price plunged by two-thirds, and its credit rating was reduced to BB+ by Standard & Poor's.<ref name="Ahold shares slump as executives are sacked over US profits error">{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2844092/Ahold-shares-slump-as-executives-are-sacked-over-US-profits-error.html |title=Ahold shares slump as executives are sacked over US profits error |access-date=25 April 2012 |work=The Telegraph|date=25 February 2003 }}</ref>

===Legal ramifications===
The irregularities led to various investigations and criminal charges by both Dutch and U.S. law enforcement authorities against Ahold and several of its former executives.

Dutch law enforcement authorities filed fraud charges against Ahold, which were settled in September 2004,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crouch |first=Gregory |date=2004-09-30 |title=Former Chief of Royal Ahold Facing Charges |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/30/business/former-chief-of-royal-ahold-facing-charges.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> when Ahold paid a fine of approximately €8 million. Ahold's former CEO, CFO, and the former executive in charge of its European activities were charged with fraud by the Dutch authorities. In May 2006, a Dutch appeals court found Ahold's former CEO and CFO guilty of false authentication of documents, and they received suspended prison sentences and unconditional fines.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced in October 2004, that it had completed its investigation and reached a final settlement with Ahold.<ref name="Ahold reaches final settlement with SEC">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Ahold-reaches-final-settlement-with-SEC.htm |title=Ahold reaches final settlement with SEC |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref>

In January 2006, Ahold announced that it had reached a settlement of [[US$]]1.1 billion (€937 million) in a securities class action lawsuit filed against the company in the United States by shareholders and former shareholders.<ref name="Ahold receives preliminary approval of settlement of securities class action in the United States">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Ahold-receives-preliminary-approval-of-settlement-of-securities-class-action-in-the-United-States.htm |title=Ahold receives preliminary approval of settlement of securities class action in the United States |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref> Another class action lawsuit was filed against Ahold's auditors, Deloitte, but this suit was dismissed.<ref name="Judge says Deloitte & Touche not liable for Ahold's fraud">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2005/01/03/story8.html |title=Judge says Deloitte & Touche not liable for Ahold's fraud |date=3 January 2005 |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher= Baltimore Business Journal }}</ref> The suit was brought up again by shareholders in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/1774692/deloitte-huge-ahold-claim|title=Deloitte faces huge Ahold claim|date=27 November 2007 |access-date=1 July 2015}}</ref> and by a different shareholder group in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law360.com/articles/307693/deloitte-faces-dutch-shareholder-suit-over-ahold-fraud|title=Deloitte Faces Dutch Shareholder Suit Over Ahold Fraud|access-date=1 July 2015}}</ref>

The SEC filed fraud charges against four former executives of U.S. Foodservice: the company's former CFO, former chief marketing officer, and two former purchasing executives. The purchasing executives settled the charges.<ref name="Europe’s Enron">{{Cite web |url=http://aaahq.org/audit/midyear/07midyear/papers/Knapp_EuropesEnron.pdf |title=Europe's Enron: Royal Ahold N.V. |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Price College of Business}}</ref> The former chief marketing officer was sentenced to 46 months in prison.<ref name=" Ex-Ahold Official Mark Kaiser Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Fraud ">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-07/ex-ahold-official-mark-kaiser-sentenced-to-46-months-in-prison-for-fraud.html |title=Ex-Ahold Official Mark Kaiser Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Fraud |access-date=25 April 2012 |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=8 December 2011 }}</ref> The former CFO was sentenced to six months of home detention and three years' probation.<ref name="Former Ahold CFO Avoids Prison">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8406410?f=related |title=Former Ahold CFO Avoids Prison |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=CFO.com}}</ref>

===Road to recovery===
Anders Moberg became CEO on 5 May 2003.<ref name="Ahold to nominate Anders Moberg as President and CEO">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Ahold-to-nominate-Anders-Moberg-as-President-and-CEO.htm |title=Ahold to nominate Anders Moberg as President and CEO |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref> Under his and other new leadership appointed following the crisis, Ahold launched a "Road to Recovery" strategy in late 2003 to restore its financial health, regain credibility, and strengthen its business.<ref name="Road to Recovery program highlights">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Road-to-Recovery-program-highlights.htm |title=Road to Recovery program highlights |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref>

As part of this strategy, Ahold announced it would divest all operations in markets where it could not achieve a sustainable number one or two position within three to five years, and that could not meet defined profitability and return criteria over time. The company divested all its operations in South America and Asia, retaining a core group of profitable companies in Europe and the United States. As part of its Road to Recovery strategy, Ahold strengthened accountability, controls and corporate governance and restored its financial health, regaining investment grade in 2007.<ref name="S&P Lifts Ahold to investment grade">{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ahold-ratings-idUSL0457822720070504 |title=S&P Lifts Ahold to investment grade; CDS tighter |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=25 April 2012 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

===Strategy for profitable growth===
In November 2006, Ahold announced the results of a major strategic review of its businesses.<ref name="Ahold announces strategy for profitable growth">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Ahold-announces-strategy-for-profitable-growth.htm |title=Ahold announces strategy for profitable growth |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref> As a result of this review, Ahold launched its strategy for profitable growth focused on strengthening its retail competitive position, particularly in the United States. The company focused on building its brands by creating an improved product and service offering, delivered an improved price position and lowered operating expenses, and reorganized the company into two continental organizations led by chief operating officers. As part of the strategy, Ahold further focused its portfolio, including the divestment of U.S. Foodservice (completed in July 2007, to CD&R and KKR for US$7.1 billion), [[Tops Friendly Markets|Tops]] (completed in December 2007, for US$310 million to Morgan Stanley Private Equity) and the company's operations in Poland (completed in July 2007, to Carrefour). The company made solid progress in delivering its strategy under the leadership of John Rishton, appointed CEO in November 2007, who had been part of the team that developed the strategy in his previous role as CFO.<ref name="Ahold history" />

In November 2011, under the leadership of [[Dick Boer]], appointed CEO in March 2011,<ref name="Ahold history" /> Ahold announced a new phase of its growth strategy, "Reshaping Retail". This strategy has six pillars—three designed to create growth and three to enable this growth. The six pillars are increasing customer loyalty, broadening our offering, expanding geographic reach, simplicity, responsible retailing, and our people.<ref name="Ahold presents its six strategic pillars to accelerate growth">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ahold.com/Ahold.htm#!/Ahold/Ahold-presents-its-six-strategic-pillars-to-accelerate-growth-2.htm |title=Ahold presents its six strategic pillars to accelerate growth |access-date=25 April 2012 |publisher=Royal Ahold}}</ref>

===Merger with Delhaize Group===
On 24 June 2015, [[Delhaize Group]] reached an agreement with Ahold to merge, forming a new company, [[Ahold Delhaize]]. At completion of the merger, Ahold shareholders will own 61% of the new combined company, while Delhaize Group shareholders will hold the remaining 39%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://delhaizegroup.com/en/PublicationsCenter/OtherPressReleases/OtherPressReleasesView/tabid/301/Article/1670/ahold-and-delhaize-announce-intention-to-merge.aspx |title=Ahold and Delhaize announce intention to merge  |access-date=2015-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919045725/http://www.delhaizegroup.com/en/PublicationsCenter/OtherPressReleases/OtherPressReleasesView/tabid/301/Article/1670/ahold-and-delhaize-announce-intention-to-merge.aspx |archive-date=19 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2015/06/24/hannaford-to-merge-with-european-supermarket-chain/|title=Growing Dutch company eats up Maine-based Hannaford chain|work=The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|date=24 June 2015 |access-date=1 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/06/24/stop-shop-parent-purchase-owner-hannaford/ifiRMvCLZFf1Fbf0uVAdQI/story.html|title=Stop & Shop parent to purchase owner of Hannaford|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=1 July 2015}}</ref> Ahold CEO [[Dick Boer]] will become CEO of the merged company, with [[Frans Muller]], CEO of Delhaize to become deputy CEO and chief integration officer.
<ref name=SupermarketNews>{{cite news|title=Ahold, Delhaize complete merger agreement|url=http://supermarketnews.com/ahold-delhaize-merger/ahold-delhaize-complete-merger-agreement|access-date=26 June 2015|work=SupermarketNews|date=24 June 2015}}</ref>

==Assets==
A list of assets ''(formally)'' owned by Ahold.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Annual Report 2019|url=https://www.aholddelhaize.com/media/10219/ahold-delhaize-annual-report-2019-interactive.pdf|access-date=|website=AholdDelhaize.com|page=192}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jaarverslagen {{!}} 1 januari 1997 {{!}} pagina 46|url=https://albertheijnerfgoed.courant.nu/issue/JV/1997-01-01/edition/37/page/46|access-date=2021-02-15|website=albertheijnerfgoed.courant.nu|date=January 1997 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jaarverslag Ahold {{!}} 1 januari 2003 {{!}} pagina 1|url=https://albertheijnerfgoed.courant.nu/issue/JAL/2003-01-01/edition/null/page/1|access-date=2021-02-15|website=albertheijnerfgoed.courant.nu|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Jaarverslagen|url=https://albertheijnerfgoed.courant.nu/periodicals/JV|access-date=2021-02-15|website=albertheijnerfgoed.courant.nu}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" style="background:#0057A2 " |Asset
''(also known as)''
! style="background:#0057A2 " |Share
! style="background:#0057A2 " |Type
! style="background:#0057A2 " |Country
! style="background:#0057A2 " |Period
! style="background:#0057A2 " |Fate
|-
| colspan="3" rowspan="3" |'''[[Albert Heijn]]'''
<small>''AH To Go, AH XL, AH Online''</small>
| rowspan="3" |100%
| rowspan="3" |Supermarket
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1887–2016
| rowspan="3" |Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
|{{flag|Germany}}
|2011–2016
|-
|{{flag|Belgium}}
|2011–2016
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Ahold Coffee Company'''
''<small>Marvelo</small>''
|100%
|Roastery
| rowspan="14" |{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1895/1910–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[AC Restaurants]]'''
''<small>Alberts Corner</small>''
|100%
|Restaurant chain
|1963–1989
|Management buy-out / sold to an investment company
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Miro'''
|100%
|Hypermarkets
|1971–1987
|Formula shut down, stores remodelled to different Ahold formulas.
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[McDonald's Netherlands]]'''
''<small>Family Food</small>''
|50%
|Fast food chain
|1971–1975
|Sold to McDonalds
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Simon de Wit]]'''
|100%
|Supermarket
|1972–1980
|Merged with Albert Heijn
|-
| colspan="3" |'''S-Discounts'''
|100%
|Discountstore
|1972–1980
|Shut down
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Nettomarkten'''
|100%
|Hypermarkets
|1972–1982
| rowspan="4" |Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Toko Kampwinkels'''
|100%
|Camping store
|1972–1988
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Ostara'''
|100%
|Holidayparks
|1972–1989
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Ter Huurne'''
|100%
|Supermarket
|1972–2014
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Alberto'''
|100%
|Liquor Store
|1974–1989
|Merged with Gall & Gall
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Lita'''
|100%
|Catalog Store
|1973–1976
|Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Jobby'''
|100%
|D.I.Y. Store
|1973–1979
|Shut down
|-
| colspan="3" rowspan="2" |'''[[Etos]]'''
| rowspan="2" |100%
| rowspan="2" |Drugstore
|1973–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
|{{flag|Belgium}}
|1988–1995
|Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |'''CadaDia'''
|100%
| rowspan="3" |Supermarket
|{{flag|Spain}}
|1976–1985
|Shut down
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[BI-LO (United States)|Bi-Lo]]'''
|100%
| rowspan="2" |{{flag|United States}}
|1977–2004
|Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Giant Food Stores]]'''
|100%
|1981–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
| colspan="3" |'''d' Swarte Walvis'''
''<small>De Walvis</small>''
|100%
|Restaurant
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1984–2003
|Sold to Nedstede Groep
|-
| colspan="3" |'''DeliXL'''
''Grootverbruik Ahold''
|100%
|
|{{flag|Netherlands}}<br />{{flag|Belgium}}
|1985–2009
|Sold to [[Bidvest Group]]
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Edwards'''
|100%
| rowspan="2" |Supermarket
| rowspan="2" |{{flag|United States}}
|1988–1995
|Merged with Stop & Shop
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Finast'''
|100%
|1988–1994
|Merged with Edwards
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Pragmacare'''
|100%
|Pharmaceutical
| rowspan="4" |{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1988–1995
| rowspan="2" |Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |[[C1000|'''Schuitema''']]
|73%
|Wholesale and distribution
|1988–2008
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Gall & Gall'''
|100%
| rowspan="2" |Liquor Store
|1989–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Party Shop'''
|100%
|1989–1989
|Merged with Gall & Gall
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Tops Markets]]'''
|100%
| rowspan="2" |Supermarket
|{{flag|United States}}
|1991–2006
|Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |Albert<ref name=":0" />
|100%
|{{flag|Czech Republic}}
|1991–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
| colspan="3" |'''De Tuinen'''
|100%
|Drugstore
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1991–2003
|Sold to [[Holland & Barrett]]
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Pingo Doce]]'''
|49%
| rowspan="3" |Supermarket
| rowspan="3" |{{flag|Portugal}}
|1992–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
! rowspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |'''Feira Nova'''
|100%
|1993–2010
| rowspan="2" |Merged with Pingo Doce
|-
| colspan="2" |'''Funchalgest'''
|45% <small>(1995)</small>
50% <small>(1999)</small>
|1995–2009
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Jamin'''
|100%
|Candystore
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1993–2003
|Management buy-out
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Red Food Stores Inc.|Red Food Stores]]'''
|100%
| rowspan="9" |Supermarket
|{{flag|United States}}
|1994–1994
|Merged with Bi-Lo
|-
| colspan="3" |Ahold Polska
|50% <small>(1995)</small>
100% <small>(1998)</small>
|{{flag|Poland}}
|1995–2007
|Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Stop & Shop'''
|100%
|{{flag|United States}}
|1995–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
| colspan="3" rowspan="5" |'''Tops'''
|65% <small>(1996)</small>
100% <small>(2000)</small>
|{{flag|Malaysia}}
|1996–2003
|Sold to [[Giant (hypermarket)|Giant]]
|-
|50%
|{{flag|Thailand}}
|1996–2004
|Sold to Central Group
|-
|70% <small>(1996)</small>
100% <small>(2002)</small>
|{{flag|Indonesia}}
|1996–2003
|Sold to [[Hero (supermarket)|PT Hero Supermarket]]
|-
|50%
|{{flag|China}}
|1996–1999
| rowspan="2" |Sold
|-
|50%
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|1996–1999
|-
| colspan="3" |[[Bompreço|'''Bompreco''']]
|100%
| rowspan="2" |{{flag|Brazil}}
| rowspan="2" |1996–2004
|Sold to [[Walmart|Wal-Mart]]
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Hipercard'''
|100%
|Banking
|Sold to Unibanco
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Store 2000'''
|50%
|Supermarket
|{{flag|Spain}}
|1997–1997
|Sold to Caprabo
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Disco International Holdings'''
|50%
! colspan="4" |
|-
! rowspan="4" |
| colspan="2" |'''Disco'''
|90%
| rowspan="4" |Supermarket
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|1998–2005
| rowspan="2" |Sold to Cencosud
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |'''Santa Isabel'''
| rowspan="3" |65%
|{{flag|Chile}}
| rowspan="3" |1998–2003
|-
|{{flag|Paraguay}}
|Sold to A.J. Viervi
|-
|{{flag|Peru}}
|Sold to Grupo Interbank and Nexus Group
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Paiz Ahold'''
|50%
! colspan="2" |
| rowspan="4" |1999–2005
| rowspan="10" |Sold
|-
!
| colspan="2" |'''CARHCO'''
|67%
! colspan="2" |
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
|'''CSU International'''
|100%
| rowspan="2" |Discoutstores
Supermarkets

Hypermarket
|{{flag|Costa Rica}}<br />{{flag|Nicaragua}}<br />{{flag|Honduras}}
|-
|'''La Frague'''
|85,6%
|{{flag|Guatemala}}<br />{{flag|El Salvador}}<br />{{flag|Honduras}}
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Dialco'''
|100%
| rowspan="5" |Supermarket
| rowspan="5" |{{flag|Spain}}
| rowspan="5" |1999–2004
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Dumaya'''
|100%
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Guerrero'''
|100%
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Castillo del Barrio'''
|100%
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Longinos Velasco'''
|100%
|-
| colspan="3" |[[US Foods|'''U.S. Foodservice''']]
|100%
|Foodservice Distributor
|{{flag|United States}}
|1999–2007
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Peapod]]'''
|51% <small>(2000)</small>
100% <small>(2001)</small>
|Online Grocer
|{{flag|United States}}
|2000–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Golden Gallon'''
|100%
|Gas stations
|{{flag|United States}}
|2000–2003
| rowspan="2" |Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |[[ICA Gruppen|'''ICA''']]
|50% <small>(2000)</small>
60% <small>(2004)</small>
|Supermarket
Hypermarket

Banking
|{{flag|Sweden}}<br />{{flag|Norway}}<br />{{flag|Estonia}}<br />{{flag|Latvia}}<br />{{flag|Lithuania}}
|2000–2013
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Bruno's]]'''
|100%
| rowspan="3" |Supermarket
|{{flag|United States}}
|2001–2001
|Merged with Bi-Lo
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Ahold Slovakia'''
|100%
|{{flag|Slovakia}}
|2001–2013
|Sold
|-
| colspan="3" |'''G. Barbosa'''
|100%
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|2001–2005
|Sold to AON Invests
|-
| colspan="3" |'''[[Bol.com]]'''
|100%
|Webshop
|{{flag|Netherlands}}<br />{{flag|Belgium}}
|2012–2016
|Merged with Ahold Delhaize
|-
|}

==Major shareholders in Ahold==

Ahold's major [[shareholder]]s were:<ref>[https://www.ahold.com/web/file?uuid=898bf647-2994-4744-9312-115b85fed07d&owner=f6216a8f-4a2d-494f-8168-ae6cd1765756&contentid=2282 "Annual Report 2013"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112123838/https://www.ahold.com/web/file?uuid=898bf647-2994-4744-9312-115b85fed07d&owner=f6216a8f-4a2d-494f-8168-ae6cd1765756&contentid=2282 |date=12 January 2015 }}. Koninklijke Ahold N.V. Retrieved 12 January 2015.</ref>
* Stichting Administratiekantoor Preferente Financieringsaandelen Ahold ''(Capital interest: 20.19%; Voting rights: 6.55%)''
* Mondrian Investment Partners Limited ''(Capital interest: 4.26%; Voting rights: 4.99%)''
* ING Groep N.V ''(Capital interest: 9.26%; Voting rights: 4.92%)''
* Blackrock, Inc ''(Capital interest: 2.99%; Voting rights: 4.46%)''
* Deutsche Bank AG ''(Capital interest: 3.63%; Voting rights: 4.26%)''
* DeltaFort Beleggingen B.V. ''(Capital interest: 11.23%; Voting rights: 3.82%)''
* Silchester International Investors LLP ''(Capital interest: 3.00%; Voting rights: 3.52%)''

== Key people ==
Source:<ref>{{Cite web|title = Executive Committee and Management Board|url = https://www.ahold.com/Corporate-governance/Executive-Committee-and-Management-Board/#!/Corporate-governance/Executive-Committee-and-Management-Board.htm|website = www.ahold.com|access-date = 10 February 2016|last = Ahold}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=50em}}
*Frans W. H. Muller (born 1961), chief executive officer since March 2018. 
*Jeff Carr (17 September 1961), chief financial officer since November 2011.
*Hanneke Faber (19 April 1969), chief commercial officer since September 2013 (until end of 2017).
*James McCann (4 October 1969), chief operating officer Ahold USA since February 2013.
*Wouter Kolk (26 April 1966) chief operating officer Ahold Netherlands since February 2015.
*Jan Ernst de Groot (11 April 1965), chief legal officer since February 2015.
*Abbe Luersman (4 December 1967), chief human resources officer.
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|left=yes|Food|Companies}}
* [[European Retail Round Table|European Round Table]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi Helsingin Sanomat] (daily, print version, 15 June 2004)

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|http://www.ahold.com}}

{{Ahold Delhaize}}
{{European Retail Round Table}}

[[Category:Ahold Delhaize]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1887]]
[[Category: 1940s initial public offerings]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category: Companies formerly listed on Euronext Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Companies based in North Holland]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of Poland]]
[[Category:Dutch brands]]
[[Category:Zaanstad]]
[[Category:Dutch companies established in 1887]]