4$
Qtos
28
Netherlands
continued
The
Albert Heijn
Etos
Ahold
Annual Report 2011
Groupata glance
Performance
Governance
Financials
Investors
Performance by segment continued
Albert Heijn
Established: 1887
Joined Ahold: The Ahold Group was
established by Albert Heijn
Brands: Albert Heijn, Albert Heijn XL and
Albert Heijn to go
Market area: The Netherlands, in Europe
Store formats: Supermarkets, compact
hypermarkets, convenience stores, and
online shopping
Own brands include: AH Huismerk,
AH Excellent, AH puur&eeriijk
(responsible choice), and Euroshopper
Albert Heijn is the leading food retailer in the Netherlands and one of the country's best-known
brands. At the end of 2011, Albert Heijn operated 856 stores. In 2011, the company opened 17
new stores, closed 4, and remodeled, relocated, or expanded 90 stores.
Albert Heijn's formats remained popular with customers in 2011, with its XL stores achieving a
record high rating by customers. Albert Heijn continued to upgrade its regular supermarkets,
roll-out its new store format, and develop its own-brand assortment, launching a wider, updated
range of convenience-based fresh products. Albert Heijn maintained its market share compared
to last year.
In 2011, Albert Heijn entered into the Belgian market, opening two stores. The event received a
great deal of positive media coverage in Belgium and the Netherlands and sales have exceeded
expectations so far.
Albert Heijn continued to focus on providing healthy food choices to customers. Together with the
Dutch industry healthy food foundation ("Ik Kies Bewust") new nationwide healthy food choice
logos were developed to replace Albert Heijn's green and orange clover, and make it simpler for
consumers to make healthy food choices.
Appie is Albert Heijn's personal shopping assistant, available on the company's website and as
a free smartphone application. Launched two years ago, it helps customers create shopping
lists personalized to their shopping habits, recipes, and current promotions. In 2011, Appie was
named the best service app in the Netherlands by Apple Inc. During the year, Albert Heijn
continued to add new features to Appie, including voice recognition, the ability to share shopping
lists with family members, and a product finder for searching and browsing the store assortment.
More about Albert Heijn online:
www.ah.nl
Established: 1918; in 1931 became a
stand-alone company
Joined Ahold: 1973
Brands: Etos
Market area: The Netherlands, in Europe
Store formats: Drugstores, and online
shopping
Own brands include: Etos and Etos
Voordeelselectie (value selection)
Etos is one of the largest drugstore chains in the Netherlands. It offers customers a wide selection
of quality health and beauty, body care, and baby care products at affordable prices, and friendly,
knowledgeable service. At the end of 2011, Etos operated 536 stores - 13 more than the
previous year. During the year, the company also remodeled, relocated, or expanded 39 stores.
In 2011, Etos again succeeded in growing sales. Employees and customers celebrated Etos'
80th anniversary. Customers again voted it one of the most customer-friendly Dutch companies,
and Etos was also named the best drugstore in the Netherlands for the third time.
More about Etos online:
www.etos.nl
