Stop and Shop parent company to merge

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The Dutch parent company of Stop and Shop and Peapod delivery service, Royal Ahold NV is merging with the Belgian company Delhaize Group, forming a single company, Ahold Delhaize that will have more than 6,500 stores worldwide, including two in Oceanside at 3577 Long Beach Road and 465 Atlantic Avenue.

Delhaize has supermarkets in Belgium, with Hannaford and Food Lion stores in the U.S., Ahold has stores in The Netherlands and Belgium, Giant and Martins stores in the U.S., in addition to Peapod and Stop and Shop. The $29 billion merger would be completed next year subject to shareholder and regulator approval.

Spokesman for Ahold USA, Chris Brand said, “The combination will create a network of more than 6,500 multi-format stores characterized by strong local identities, which will allow us to serve more customers more completely. We will continue to operate our existing strong and trusted local banners across the U.S.”

Both companies are innovators in online shopping, grocery delivery, and organic foods.

Ahold chief executive Dick Boer will become CEO of the merged company, while Delhaize CEO Frans Muller will be his deputy.