AHO Koninklijke Ahold N V

Ahold today announced consolidated net sales of EUR 6.4 billion for the second quarter ending July 12, 2009. Compared to the second quarter of 2008, net sales increased by 11.5% or 3.9% at constant exchange rates.

In the second quarter, inflation slowed considerably and we continued to see changing customer and competitor behavior, with an increased focus on price and promotions.

In the United States, Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover continued to drive improved performance and Giant-Carlisle invested aggressively in price and promotions.

In Europe, Albert Heijn grew market share by providing great customer value, while managing margins.

In a changing environment, we continue to manage the balance of sales, market share and margin in each of our markets and remain well-positioned to meet our customers' needs.

Sales performance

Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover

* Net sales increased 2.8% to $ 4.1 billion.

* Identical sales increased 1.7% at Stop & Shop (3.4% excluding gasoline net sales) and increased 3.7% at Giant-Landover (3.5% excluding gasoline net sales).

* Comparable sales increased 2.3% at Stop & Shop and increased 4.2% at Giant-Landover.

Giant-Carlisle

* Net sales decreased 0.4% to $ 1.1 billion, impacted significantly by lower gasoline prices.

* Identical sales decreased 1.8% (increased 2.0% excluding gasoline net sales).

* Comparable sales decreased 0.9%.

Albert Heijn

* Net sales increased 7.8% to EUR 2.2 billion.

* Net sales at Albert Heijn supermarkets were EUR 2.1 billion, up 7.9% compared to last year, primarily due to the conversion of former Schuitema stores into the Albert Heijn format in the second half of 2008 and early 2009.

* Identical sales at Albert Heijn supermarkets increased 0.4% compared to a very strong quarter last year partly due to the Euro 2008 Football Championship.

Albert/Hypernova (Czech Republic and Slovakia)

* Net sales decreased 6.8% to EUR 383 million (0.7% at constant exchange rates), impacted by store closures as part of our restructuring program.

* Identical sales decreased 1.6% (1.5% excluding gasoline net sales).

Unconsolidated joint venture - ICA

* Net sales decreased 8.3% to EUR 2.2 billion. At constant exchange rates, net sales increased 2.6%.

Net sales per segment

                      Q2       Q2       %        HY       HY       %
(in millions)        2009    2008*    Change    2009    2008*    Change
All segments (in
euros)

Stop &
Shop/Giant-Landover  2,998    2,566   16.8%     7,054    5,969   18.2%
Giant-Carlisle         810      715   13.3%     1,924    1,651   16.5%
Ahold USA            3,808    3,281   16.1%     8,978    7,620   17.8%

Albert Heijn         2,239    2,077   7.8%      5,232    4,741   10.4%
Albert/Hypernova       383      411   (6.8%)      874      922   (5.2%)
Ahold Europe         2,622    2,488   5.4%      6,106    5,663   7.8%

Ahold Group          6,430    5,769   11.5%    15,084   13,283   13.6%

Unconsolidated
joint venture - ICA  2,230    2,433   (8.3%)    4,292    4,699   (8.7%)
Average U.S. dollar
exchange rate
(EUR per USD)       0.7277   0.6403   13.6%    0.7474   0.6526   14.5%


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

Stop &
Shop/Giant-Landover  4,120    4,008   2.8%      9,443    9,147   3.2%
Giant-Carlisle       1,113    1,117   (0.4%)    2,575    2,531   1.7%

* Due to changes in accounting policies applied retrospectively, comparative information has been changed as explained further under Notes to this Trading Statement.

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 applied 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, did not impact net sales for the second quarter of 2008 (HY 2008: EUR 7 million decrease at Albert Heijn).

* As of 2009, rent income earned by certain real estate subsidiaries is netted against the related expense, whereas previously it was included in net sales. Comparative information has been changed accordingly, with the effect that net sales for the second quarter of 2008 decreased by EUR 14 million (HY 2008: EUR 31 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 Ahold 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 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, market share and margin and Ahold's response to consumer needs and competitor 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, inflation or deflation, fluctuations in exchange rates or interest rates, increases or changes in competition, the behavior of consumers and third parties, 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, 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.

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