# Grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize sees Europe’s food inflation slowing Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-05-10 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Ahold Delhaize Projects Slower Food Inflation in Europe Meta Description: Ahold Delhaize forecasts a decrease in food inflation in Europe, with prices expected to fall in the second half of the year. Learn more here. URL: https://financedigest.com/grocery-retailer-ahold-delhaize-sees-europes-food-inflation-slowinghtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-05-10t063522z2lynxmpej49069rtroptp4ahold-delhaize-results-1736814041612-compressed.jpg) # Grocery retailer Ahold Delhaize sees Europe’s food inflation slowing (Reuters) -Supermarket group Ahold Delhaize expects food inflation in Europe to slow in the second half of this year, CEO Frans Muller said on Wednesday after the retailer beat expectations for its first quarter thanks to strong U.S. sales. Muller said he saw food inflation slowing in the second half, with [prices for sunflower oil](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-prices-slide-amid-fears-of-supply-boost-weaker-demand.html "Oil prices slide amid fears of supply boost, weaker demand") and eggs likely to fall back slightly. Ahold, which operates Stop & Shop, Giant, Food Lion and Hannaford in the U.S. and Albert Heijn in the Netherlands, posted quarterly sales of 21.62 billion euros ($23.80 billion) to beat a 21.5 billion euro consensus from analyst [forecasts compiled by the company](https://www.financedigest.com/gastrointestinal-stromal-tumor-market-global-leading-companies-analysis-revenue-trends-and-forecasts-2027.html "Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Market Global Leading Companies Analysis, Revenue, Trends and Forecasts 2027"). The retailer, which makes more than half its revenues in the U.S., saw its underlying operating margin rise to 4.8% in the U.S. while in Europe it fell to 2.8%, hit by higher [energy costs](https://www.financedigest.com/energy-costs-for-most-british-households-to-fall-18-from-july-cornwall-insight.html "Energy costs for most British households to fall 18% from July -Cornwall Insight") and a strike at Delhaize Belgium. Ahold also has supermarkets in Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Romania, and Serbia, as well as Indonesia. Online sales in the U.S. jumped by 11.9% compared to a year ago, helping overall online [sales grow](https://www.financedigest.com/sales-revenue-of-tpms-battery-market-to-soar-in-the-near-future-owing-to-growing-consumer-adoption.html "Sales Revenue of Tpms Battery Market to Soar in the Near Future Owing to Growing Consumer Adoption") by 5.9%. Ahold said its [loyalty programs](https://www.financedigest.com/recipe-for-success-sausalitos-announces-blockchain-powered-loyalty-program.html "Recipe for Success: Sausalitos Announces Blockchain-Powered Loyalty Program") were helping to draw shoppers with personalised discounts. [Quarterly operating income was 822 million](https://www.financedigest.com/xero-surpasses-quarter-of-a-million-subscribers-in-the-uk.html "Xero surpasses quarter of a million subscribers in the UK") euros, in line with expectations of 823 million euros. ($1 = 0.9084 euros) (Reporting by Helen ReidEditing by David Goodman, Elaine Hardcastle) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---