Ahold Delhaize Earns Spot on Sustainability Index

Ahold Delhaize has been included in the 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the first time as a new company, ranking high in the Food and Staples Retailing sector. The newly merged organization earned a total score of 79, well above the sector’s average score of 44.

“Inclusion in the index strengthens my belief that as Ahold Delhaize, together our brands can make an ever bigger difference in local communities -- and the world,” noted Ahold Delhaize CEO Dick Boer. “The brands of Ahold Delhaize share a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of customers, associates and the communities we serve. We will continue building our sustainable retailing strategy with a focus on promoting healthier eating, reducing food waste and creating healthy and inclusive workplaces.”

The company’s U.S. brands are Food Lion, Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York, Hannaford, Giant Carlisle, Giant Landover, Peapod and bfresh.

Boer added that Ahold Delhaize performed particularly well in several significant categories, among them health and nutrition, raw material sourcing, and human capital development, deftly balancing economic, environmental and social criteria. “This reflects the outstanding efforts and contributions of the 375,000 associates of our local brands operating in 11 countries,” he said.

Ahold Delhaize was created from the merger between Ahold and Delhaize Group in July 2016. Both companies were each included in the Food and Staples Retailing sector in the 2015 DJSI. Since the 2016 ranking was completed before the merger, Ahold and Delhaize Group were scored separately, and their individual scores were then combined, using a weighted calculation based on the pre-merger value of their respective market shares.

The other food retailers to make the world index are Japan’s Aeon Co. Ltd. and Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Germany’s Metro AG, and Australia’s Wesfarmers Ltd., while consumer packaged goods companies in the international index include Campbell Soup Co., Coca-Cola, Danone, Hershey, Molson Coors Brewing Co., Mondelez, Nestlé and Reynolds. Most of these companies, with the exception of Aeon and Wesfarmers, are making repeat appearances. In the North American index, retailers Kroger, Starbucks, Target and CVS appear, while CPGs on the regional list are Campbell Soup, ConAgra, Hershey, Molson Coors, Mondelez, PepsiCo, Reynolds, Colgate-Palmolive, and Procter & Gamble.

The DJSI World, begun in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmark, tracks the performance of the world's leading companies against economic, environmental and social criteria.

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