Delhaize sales hit by exchange rate differences

Belgian food retailer Delhaize has said that turnover fell by 4.4 percent in 2004 to EUR 18 billion. The group said that the figures were hit by a 9.1 percent drop in the dollar and by one less trading week in the USA than in 2003. However, on a like-for-like basis, sales grew by 1.5 percent in The USA and 2.2 percent in Belgium. 71 percent of Delhaize's sales come from its US operations.