Ahold combines Central Europe operations
Supermarket operator integrates in growing market
October 27 2002
Netherlands-based supermarket giant Ahold is to integrate operations in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to create a new division, Ahold Central Europe.
Operating from a central support office in Prague, ACE will combine back-office functions and management of Ahold’s Polish, Czech and Slovak businesses. Jacquot Boelen, previously chief executive of Ahold Polska, has been appointed chief executive of the new division.
The three countries will merge hesd office functions such as sourcing, HR, marketing, format development and IT, while day-to-day operations for the stores and distribution centers will be managed locally.
ACE will manage over 400 Albert supermarkets and Hypernova hypermarkets in Central Europe with combined 2001 sales of approximately 1.3 billion euros. The integration will begin on January 1, 2003 and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
