Ahold streamlines retail support
Offices merged in efficiency drive
January 21 2004
Ahold is to close its US corporate HQ and manage its US retail chains from a new site.
The Ahold US retail headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia, will be closed, A new facility in the Boston area will bring together the back-office functions of Ahold’s Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover businesses from July 2004.
Ahold USA operates 1300 supermarkets through six retail companies. About 100 employees currently employed in Virginia will be affected by the move, as well as those in other regional offices scheduled to relocate.
Ahold USA President and CEO Bill Grize said: “We are confident that this integration will speed decision-making, better align support services with the needs of the businesses, and provide for more numerous career opportunities for our people.”
The move is part of Ahold’s ‘Road to Recovery’ strategy designed to help bring the business, stricken by financial problems, back into line.
In Europe, Ahold’s regional support organisation for European operations, the European Competence Center, will also close, and integrated with Ahold’s corporate headquarters in the Netherlands.
President and CEO Anders Moberg said: “This is part of our stated commitment and strategy to integrate the many different parts of our operations into a single company with a single focus on generating value for customers.
“These actions are essential steps that will enable us to simplify and streamline our organisation and ultimately improve our customer offering.”
The center support Ahold’s operations in The Netherlands, Nordic countries, Central Europe and Iberia.
