Ahold Delhaize is on the prowl for new acquisitions, circling above the United States in particular for possible targets to scoop up. According to a report by Reuters, CEO Frans Muller revealed the retailer’s potential strategy shift, which includes plans of looking for acquisitions in the U.S. “We have a strong market share in regions where we are active. That gives us a good starting point to join in the acquisition game,” Muller said. Earlier this year, Ahold Delhaize announced plans to expand its U.S. online business organically, with emphasis on its online grocery delivery business Peapod. The company also rang in growth in its e-commerce business and a new partnership expanding its digital operations—accomplishments that could point to Ahold Delhaize bulking up to take on Amazon and Walmart in the market they are known to dominate.
AHOLD DELHAIZE: THE GROWTH PATH
As competitors like Kroger, Aldi and Walmart have announced transformative new investments in recent months, the pressure has ratcheted up on Ahold Delhaize to defend its position along the East Coast and even get ahead where it can. “In an industry that’s undergoing rapid change, fueled by shifting customer behavior and preferences, we will focus on growth by investing in our stores, omnichannel offering and technological capabilities which will enrich the customer experience and increase efficiencies,” Muller said in a statement. The question is whether ‘test and learn’ will move fast enough to keep pace with competitors like Whole Foods and Shop Rite, which have invested in store and price updates.
