March 6 - CEO Comments: “Delhaize Group had an excellent year in 2007,” said Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Group. “We realized the strongest sales momentum in years in our U.S. and Greek operations, and we held our industry-leading operating margins due to a better sales mix and disciplined cost management. Despite the increasingly uncertain economic environment, the strong performance continued in the fourth quarter in the U.S. and Greece, while our Belgian operations recovered after a challenging third quarter.”
Financial Highlights 2007
• Continued revenues momentum: +4.9% at identical exchange rates
• Highest comparable store sales growth in the U.S. in more than ten years (+3.8%)
• Outstanding results at Alfa-Beta in Greece with 13.9% revenue growth
• Operating profit up by 7.8% (excluding USD 18.6 million impairment) at identical exchange rates
• Group share in net profit: +23.5% at identical exchange rates (+16.5% at actual exchange rates)
Financial Highlights Fourth Quarter 2007
• Revenue growth: +5.0% at identical exchange rates
• Continued strong comparable store sales growth in the U.S. (+3.7%)
• Outstanding operating margin of 5.5% and operating profit growth of 7.2% at identical exchange rates (excluding impairment)
• Group share in net profit: +7.5% at identical exchange rates
Other Highlights
• Proposal to increase net dividend by 9.1% to EUR 1.08 per share
• 2008 guidance: strong growth expected with 2.5% to 3.5% U.S. comparable store sales growth, 4% to 5.5% revenue growth Delhaize Group, 6% to 8% operating profit growth and 25% to 30% expected growth in net profit from continuing operations (at identical exchange rates)