Delhaize's Jan-Sept underlying operating profit in SEE/Asia up 39%

In the July-September period the company's underlying operating profit in SEE and Asia grew 45.4% to 21 million euro, Delhaize said in its third-quarter financial report.

In the third quarter of this year, revenues in SEE and Asia increased by 19.5% to 793 million euro mainly as a result of the Maxi acquisition, while underlying operating margin increased to 2.7% from 2.2% mostly driven by improvements in Greece, Romania and Serbia.

The company's SEE and Asia operations include the Delta Maxi network in Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, the Alfa Beta network in Greece, Mega Image in Romania and 51% of Super Indo in Indonesia.

At the end of September Delhaize Group operated 153 stores in Romania, 360 in Serbia, 42 in Bulgaria, 41 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 23 in Albania, and 23 in Montenegro.

($=0.7729 euro)