3.6%
6.9%
Performance by segment
The Netherlands
Highlights of the year
84,107
Net sales
Operating income
Ahold
Annual Report 2010
Group at a glance
Governance
Fi nancials
Investors
Sales million)
10,087
Identical sales growth
Contribution to Group sales
.2%
Operating income million)
On an underlying
basis
Number of stores (at year end)
2010
2009
Albert Heijn
843
835
Etos
523
518
Gall Gall
548
539
The Netherlands
1,914
1,892
Albert Heijn realized another year of market share growth
Albert Heijn rolled out a new assortment of affordable, everyday, non-food items and increased
the number of products under its "AH puur&eerlijk" organic and sustainable own brand
Albert Heijn's XL store format was named the best supermarket in the Netherlands for the
second consecutive year; Albert Heijn's supermarket format took second place
During the World Cup Soccer Championships, Albert Heijn gave away a stuffed toy mascot
that created a national hype
Etos was named the most customer-friendly drugstore in the Netherlands
Gall Gall remodeled its 100th store to the company's new format and introduced a new gift
concept
Gall Gall continued to open small stores adjacent to Albert Heijn supermarkets
Albert Heijn, Etos, Gall Gall, and the online delivery service albert.nl comprise the segment
called the Netherlands. The following table contains operational information, including net sales
and operating income, for the Netherlands in 2010 and 2009:
2010
2009
Net sales in millions
10,087
9,843
Change in identical sales
3.6%
1.8%
Operating income in millions
688
654
Operating income as a percentage of net sales
6.8%
6.6%
Underlying operating income as a percentage of net sales
6.9%
6.6%
Number of employees at year-end (headcount)
80,471
Number of employees at year-end (FTE)
28,425
27,399
Sales area of own operated stores (in thousands of square meters)
876
865
Net sales increased to €10.1 billion in 2010, a rise of 4.7 percent adjusted for the additional week
in 2009. Despite a competitive market, identical sales increased by 3.6 percent, largely due to
customer loyalty strengthened by our successful value repositioning at Albert Heijn and Etos in
recent years, as well as effective promotions at Albert Heijn, Etos, and Gall Gall.
In 2010, operating income increased €34 million, or 5.2 percent, to €688 million. The Netherlands
achieved solid identical sales growth and continued to focus on efficiencies. Results included a
total of €19 million in positive non-recurring items. Impairments of €6 million were partly offset by a
€3 million gain on the sale of real estate, as discussed in Results from operations under Group
performance.
