date:Apr 23, 2013
he United States cut-throat competition has driven down grocery prices.
Delhaize, which operates the Food Lion, Hannaford and Bottom Dollar Food chains in the United States, has responded by cutting costs, reducing prices and closing some stores, while revamping others.
The group said its underlying operating profit rose 13.7 percent to 214 million euros ($280 million) in the first quarter, beating analysts' forecasts by about 20 percent.
It also predicted a full-year profit of 775 million eu