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Delhaize Group Announces
Management Change
8/19/2002style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>
STREAMLINES
SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM
BRUSSELS, Belgium - August 19, 2002 - Delhaize Group (Euronext Brussels: DELB,
NYSE: DEG), the Belgian international food retailer, announces the
reorganization of its senior executive team in the United States. Rick Anicetti
becomes Chief Executive Officer of Food Lion and Bill McCanless is named Vice
Chairman of Delhaize America. The chief executives of the two key U.S.
businesses will now report directly to Pierre-Olivier Beckers, Chief Executive
Officer of Delhaize Group.
Delhaize Group is streamlining its senior executive team in a move to further
capitalize on the recent share exchange transaction with its major U.S.
subsidiary, Delhaize America.
Rick Anicetti, currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Food Lion, is
being promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Food Lion. Mr. Anicetti began his
food industry career at sister banner Hannaford Bros. Co. in 1980. After
completing the company's retail management training program, he held a
progression of roles of increasing responsibility and was ultimately named head
of the southeastern operations of Hannaford. Mr. Anicetti joined Food Lion in
August 2000 as Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to President in
September 2001. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Food Bank of
North Carolina, the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association, the North
Carolina Food Dealers Association and the Food Bank of Metrolina. He earned his
bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
Both Mr. Anicetti and Ron Hodge, Chief Executive Officer of Hannaford, will
report directly to Pierre-Olivier Beckers, Chief Executive Officer and
President of Delhaize Group. Mr. Beckers, Group President and CEO since 1999,
possesses a broad-based retail experience that includes positions in
purchasing, category management, and operations in Belgium and the United
States. He is on the Board of Directors of the Food Marketing Institute and was
elected recently to a two-year term as Chairman of CIES - The Food Business
Forum, an international food business network serving as interface between more
than 400 retailers and suppliers from 50 countries. Mr. Beckers has a
bachelor's degree in applied economics from I.A.G., Louvain-La-Neuve and an
M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Bill McCanless, previously Chief Executive Officer of Delhaize America, will be
Vice Chairman of Delhaize America and continue to serve on the Delhaize Group
Board of Directors. Mr. Beckers is assuming the additional title of Chief
Executive Officer of Delhaize America. All changes are effective September 1,
2002.
Mr. Beckers said, " The share exchange transaction was designed to create
a solid platform for sharing the Group's considerable retail expertise among
all of its banners. The streamlining of our senior executive team will give me
the opportunity to work directly with the seasoned operators of the Group's two
U.S. operating divisions, who together have over 40 years of retail experience.
I look forward to playing a more active role in supporting the growth of our
U.S. businesses and in developing the cross banner retail partnerships that
will benefit all of our customers, associates and shareholders."
"Bill did a great job leading the company through the late 1990s, and he
built a first class retail team. He has integrated the Hannaford acquisition to
take full advantage of the synergies and yet retain the distinct and successful
operating characteristics of our U.S. banners. Bill will continue to contribute
meaningfully to the further growth and development of Delhaize America and
Delhaize Group in his roles as Vice Chairman of Delhaize America and as a board
member at the Group level," said Mr. Beckers.
Contacts:
Guy Elewaut: + 32 (0)2 412 29 48
Geoffroy d'Oultremont: + 32 (0)2 412 83 21
Amy Shue (U.S. investors): + 1 (704) 633-8250, ext. 2529
Ruth Kinzey (U.S. media): + 1 (704) 633-8250, ext. 2118
