SALISBURY, N.C. - Delhaize Group (Euronext Brussels: DELB; NYSE: DEG), a global supermarket retailer headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, announced the promotion of two senior executives at two of its Delhaize America business units, following the Group’s board of directors meeting held today in Salisbury, NC.
Rick Anicetti has been named president of Salisbury-based Food Lion. Anicetti, a 20-year veteran of the supermarket industry, has been executive vice president and chief operating officer at Food Lion since August 2000. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of Hannaford Bros. Co., Food Lion’s sister company. During his tenure with the Scarborough, Maine-based grocery store chain, Anicetti held management level positions in retail, merchandising, human resources and distribution.
Ron Hodge, president of Hannaford, has assumed the additional duties of chief executive officer. Hodge, a 20-year veteran of the company, has served in both retail and general management positions. He has been involved with positioning Hannaford in the entry of new markets and successfully integrating acquisitions into the company’s banner.
Hugh Farrington, previously CEO of Hannaford, will continue his duties as Vice Chairman of Delhaize America, including the direct oversight of Kash n’ Karry, Hannaford and the Delhaize America synergy teams. He will also lend his extensive supermarket experience in support of Food Lion. Farrington will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors of Delhaize Group and of the newly formed Office of the CEO for Delhaize Group.
Bill McCanless will continue in his role as chief executive officer of Delhaize America and Food Lion. He, too, will also continue to serve as a member of the board of directors of Delhaize Group and a member of the Office of the CEO of Delhaize Group.
The realignment of executive responsibilities among the Delhaize America banners will enhance the organization’s operational effectiveness as well as lead to strengthening its position in the market, according to McCanless.
“I have a great deal of confidence in Rick and Ron’s leadership abilities. By promoting from within two of our banners, our individual subsidiaries will remain strong, and our DZA officers will be able to focus on capitalizing on the strengths of each company,” McCanless said.
About Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group is a food retailer headquartered in Belgium, and listed on Euronext Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange. At the end of the second quarter of 2001, Delhaize Group’s sales network consisted of 2,440 stores in ten countries on three continents. In 2000, Delhaize Group achieved sales of EUR 18.2 billion (USD 16.8 billion) and net earnings of EUR 160.7 million (USD 148.1 million). Delhaize Group employs approximately 152,000 persons. For more information, visit the Delhaize Group web site at
www.delhaizegroup.com.
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