<p><strong>Brussels, BE</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Delhaize Group has released its first quarter 2012 results. The company reported revenue growth of 5.9% with 2.3% organic growth, according to financial documents. Delhaize had a comparable store sales evolution of -0.6% in the U.S. and -0.9% in Belgium.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> The company revealed double digit revenue growth in Southeastern Europe and Asia . The growth occurred even without the positive impact of Delta Maxi acquisition. The Group also reported an underlying operating margin of 3.5% at actual exchange rates and was impacted by the company's continuing investment in its growth initiatives. Bottom Dollar Food helped in particular with its price competitiveness. Revenue momentum and volume growth in Food Lion Phase One stores also assisted with this.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Pierre-Olivier Beckers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize Group, stated, “In the first quarter, we continued to deliver on our New Game Plan by investing in key revenue growth initiatives. These actions resulted in solid revenue growth of 5.9%. Our commitment to price competitiveness, the accelerated revenue momentum in our Food Lion Phase One stores, strong revenue growth at Bottom Dollar Food, real growth in Serbia and the strength of our Alfa Beta brand, give us confidence that our strategy is delivering the intended results.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
