Press Release

[GRAPHIC OMITTED] AHOLD


                                                       Royal Ahold
                                                       Corporate Communications


                                                Date:  October 6, 2003
                                 For more information: +31 75 659 57 20



Ahold publishes financial reporting schedule

Zaandam, The Netherlands, October 6, 2003 -- Ahold today published its financial
reporting  schedule  for the  remainder  of calendar  year 2003.  To provide for
quality and  completeness  of  disclosure,  the company has  reviewed its entire
schedule for the rest of the year and developed a timetable that it believes can
accommodate the volume of work required to complete its regulatory and statutory
filings.

Hannu  Ryopponen,  Chief  Financial  Officer  said:  "Resources  at  Ahold  were
stretched to the limit to provide  shareholders with the 2002 financial results.
Preparing the next sets of financial data will require sufficient time to ensure
that they are completed with the degree of thoroughness  and precision  expected
by  shareholders.  We  recognize  that some of the dates may  differ  from those
suggested at the  presentation of our 2002 results on October 2, 2003.  However,
the timetable  we've  proposed is both  reasonable  and  achievable,  and in the
interests of all our shareholders."


Ahold upcoming financial events: 2003

<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                  <C>

Date*             Event                 Summary
October 15        20F                   Filing with the SEC and publication
October 28        Trading Update        3Q 2003 sales
October 31        Annual Report         2002 annual report published
November 7        Earnings Statement    Half year results and strategy statement
November 26       AGM                   Annual general meeting of shareholders
November 26       Earnings Statement    Q3 2003 results
Janary 9, 2004    Trading Update        Q4 2003 sales


</TABLE>

* Please note that the financial  reporting dates are provisional and subject to
change at Ahold's  discretion,  as they may be influenced by factors  beyond the
company's ability to control.


Ahold Corporate Communications: +31.75.659.5720

                                                 Albert Heijnweg 1, Zaandam
                                                 P.O. Box 3050, 1500 HB Zaandam
                                                 The Netherlands
                                                 Phone: +31 (0)75 659 5720
http://www.ahold.com                             Fax:   +31 (0)75 659 8302

<PAGE>


Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Ahold intends that these statements
be covered by the safe harbors  created  under these laws.  The  forward-looking
statements  include,  but are not  limited  to,  statements  as to the timing of
upcoming  financial  events.  These  forward-looking  statements  are subject to
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially  from  future  results  expressed  or implied by the  forward-looking
statements.  Important  factors  that  could  cause  actual  results  to  differ
materially from the information  set forth in these  forward-looking  statements
include, but are not limited to, possible rescheduling of certain planned public
announcements,  meetings or releases of information and other factors and events
discussed in Ahold's  public  filings.  Many of these factors are beyond Ahold's
ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties,  readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements,  which only speak
as of the date of this press release. Ahold does not undertake any obligation to
release  publicly any revisions to these  forward-looking  statements to reflect
events or  circumstances  after the date of this press release or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated  events,  except as may be required under applicable
securities laws.