<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%"> Brussels, Belgium</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">3.12.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_delhaize_record_sales_mar_2013_BODY_00.jpg" alt="Cropped Images 031213" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In Delhaize Group’s conference call concerning 2012 fourth quarter and year end results, CEO of Delhaize America Roland Smith pledged to accelerate Food Lion’s transformation in regaining price competitiveness, strengthen the Hannaford banner, and optimize Bottom Dollar Food.<img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_delhaize_record_sales_mar_2013_BODY_01.jpg" alt="Cropped Images 031213" />“Food Lion, as you know, is in the process of ensuring that it stays relevant to its customers,” said Smith.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">More rephrasing and rebranding initiatives will begin in May and are expected to bring 80% of Food Lion stores to the new standards, while the company will focus on new ways of differentiating itself from its competitors.<img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_delhaize_record_sales_mar_2013_BODY_02.jpg" alt="Cropped Images 031213" />In regard to the Hannaford banner, Smith noted the company needs to improve in terms of budget-friendly options.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Hannaford continues to perform very well on the key customer needs, except for price,” Smith stated. So in 2012, we invested in targeted price reductions at Hannaford in an effort to address this issue and improve price perception.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“This year, we will continue to improve our overall price competitiveness, which we believe will drive sales momentum at Hannaford.”<img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_delhaize_record_sales_mar_2013_BODY_03.jpg" alt="Cropped Images 031213" />Referencing its involvement in the fastest-growing part of the food retail market, Bottom Dollar Food, he said, “We are pleased with the progress we are making at Bottom Dollar Food, and our primary focus is to grow sales and reduce operating costs to ensure we have the right economic model before further expansion.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/1256151-etablissements-delhaize-frres-et-cie-le-lion-groupe-delhaize-sa-management-discusses-q4-2012-results-earnings-call-transcript?source=google_news" target="_new">Delhaize </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
