Ahold - improved performance in 2003

Dutch retailer Ahold has posted a net loss of 1 million Euros for 2003, compared to a 1.2 billion Euros loss in 2002. The results are broadly in line with analysts' expectations as the group restructures and sells off assets after the accounting scandal of 2003. Ahold intends to complete the planned sale of its remaining assets in Latin America, its Spanish retail operations and the BI-LO/Bruno's chains in the United States, by the end of 2004.