The full name of Ahold USA is Koninklijke Ahold N.V. and is traded on the Euronext exchange as AH, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as AHO. The name is derived from Albert Heijn Holdings, the name of the original founder. They have corporate headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts and in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Ahold USA is part of the larger corporation Royal Ahold based in the Netherlands. Worldwide, Royal Ahold is one of the largest grocery retailers. In the United States, Ahold operates four different banners: Giant-Carlisle/Martin’s Food Markets, Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Peapod.

Ahold operates 713 stores in 12 states:
Connecticut 86
Delaware 6
District of Columbia 7
Maryland 108
Massachusetts 130
New Hampshire 6
New Jersey 55
New York 79
Pennsylvania 133
Rhode Island 25
Virginia 75
West Virginia 3

Ahold USA provides support to four regional divisions:

1. Stop & Shop New England
2. Stop & Shop New York Metro
3. Giant Landover
4. Giant Carlisle

Stop & Shop operates 381 stores; Giant Landover, 180; Giant Carlisle, 126; and Martin’s, 26 stores.
The stores are disbursed throughout portions of the northeast. Giant of Carlisle operates 152 stores in parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Giant of Landover/Martin’s Food Markets runs 92 gas stations and 180 stores covering portions of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and a small part of southern Pennsylvania. Stop & Shop covers part of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, all of Connecticut and all of Rhode Island.

Peapod is an online grocery store that delivers to customers in their home or business. Peapod was one of the first to offer this service and is considered the leading online grocery shopping and delivery service in the U.S. The service is provided to a limited number of communities near participating stores. All four of the market chains are involved with the service.

Early in 2012, the company began placing signs in a limited number of stations of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia. Those with smartphones can obtain the Peapod app, chose the products they want and have them delivered the same day.

Ahold US carries a number of private brands in their stores. These include:
• Care One ¬health and beauty care
• Cottontails ¬baby accessories and diapers
• Acadia¬ spring water products
• Companion Essentials ¬ pet products
• Smart Living – General merchandise
• Guaranteed Value – Value priced items
• Orchard Perfect – Limited produce label
• Natures’ Promise – Natural and organic foods
• White Gem – Chicken
• Pure Power/Pure Softness – Cleaning supplies
• Simply Enjoy

The company was hit by a number of financial scandals in the early 2000s, which forced the company to limit its ambitious global expansion plans. After reorganization, the company is back to expanding in the U.S. and making headway.

As of fiscal year ending January 2010 (the latest data available), total sales in the U.S. equaled $22.8 billion. Ahold is estimated to have a 3% market share and standing at ninth place in the U.S. market.
The stores have reintroduced the Guaranteed Value line to the stores in redesigned packaging and products priced to temp budget conscience consumers.

Banners: Stop & Shop, Giant of Carlisle, Giant of Landover, Martin’s Food Market