[Graphic omitted] AHOLD


                                                        Press Release


                                                        Royal Ahold
                                                        Corporate Communications



                                                 Date:  December 23, 2004
                                 For more information:  +31 75 659 57 20



Ahold agrees to sell BI-LO and Bruno's
to Lone Star Funds

Major milestone achieved in EUR 2.5 billion divestment program


Zaandam, The Netherlands, December 23, 2004 - Ahold today announced it has
entered into an agreement to sell its U.S. retail subsidiaries BI-LO and Bruno's
to an affiliate of the Lone Star Funds for total cash proceeds of up to USD 660
million. BI-LO and Bruno's will retain all of their debt obligations and other
liabilities including capitalized lease obligations, although Ahold may be
contingently liable under existing guarantees in respect of a portion of such
capitalized lease obligations.

The final purchase price is subject to customary price adjustments. Closing is
anticipated in the first quarter of 2005 and is subject to the fulfillment of
customary closing conditions, including antitrust approval. The closing is not
subject to any financing condition. At closing, Ahold will receive cash proceeds
of USD 560 million and a letter of credit for USD 100 million will be placed in
escrow. Within 18 months of closing, Ahold will be entitled to receive the
balance of the purchase price of up to USD 100 million depending upon BI-LO and
Bruno's achieving certain targets relating to dispositions of inventory, real
estate and other assets.

BI-LO and Bruno's are two of the leading food retail chains in the Southeastern
region of the United States with a combined store count of over 450 supermarkets
and combined 2003 net sales of approximately EUR 4.7 billion.




                                                 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

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"This divestment comes at the end of a year of transition for Ahold and marks a
major milestone along our Road to Recovery," said Ahold President and CEO Anders
Moberg. "Divesting BI-LO and Bruno's is part of our strategy to optimize our
portfolio and strengthen our financial position by reducing debt. Our U.S.
retail business will be fully focused on our other prominent supermarket
operations, Stop & Shop / Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle / Tops. We committed
ourselves to a caring and careful divestment of BI-LO and Bruno's in the best
interests of our associates and shareholders. This has been achieved and our
'Road to Recovery' is on track," he concluded.

Lone Star Funds, based in Dallas, Texas, is a leading U.S. private investment
company that manages more than USD 13 billion in assets and investments in North
America, Europe and Asia.

Ahold acquired BI-LO, headquartered in Mauldin, South Carolina, in 1977. The
company operates 287 stores in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and
Tennessee. BI-LO employs approximately 23,000 associates.

Ahold acquired Bruno's, based in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2001. The company
operates 168 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. Bruno's
employs approximately 11,500 associates.


Ahold Corporate Communications: +31.75.659.5720


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Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Ahold's intention to
complete the divestment of BI-LO and Bruno's, Ahold's ability to consummate the
transaction, statements relating to the total cash proceeds Ahold expects to
receive, Ahold's expectations as to the timing of the closing and the payment of
the balance of the purchase price that may occur after the closing depending on
the companies achieving certain disposition targets, the contribution of the
BI-LO and Bruno's sale to Ahold's debt reduction and statements as to the
achievement and progress of Ahold's Road to Recovery program. 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 Ahold's
ability to complete the divestment of BI-LO and Bruno's, the effect of any
adjustments to the proceeds Ahold will receive in the sale, any inability to
obtain, or delays in obtaining, antitrust approval, the actions of government
and law enforcement agencies, the inability to satisfy, or delays in satisfying,
closing conditions, BI-LO and Bruno's ability to achieve certain disposition
targets, Ahold's liquidity needs exceeding expected levels, the ability of Ahold
to implement successfully its plans and strategies, the diversion of
management's attention in implementing plans, the effect of general economic
conditions, actions of competitors and increases in competition in the markets
in which Ahold's subsidiaries and joint ventures operate, and other factors
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 or circumstances, except as may be required
under applicable securities laws. Outside The Netherlands, Koninklijke Ahold
N.V., being its registered name, presents itself under the name of "Royal Ahold"
or simply "Ahold."

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