[Graphic omitted] Ahold
                                                        Press Release

                                                        Royal Ahold
                                                        Corporate Communications




                                                  Date: March 3, 2004
                                  For more information: +31 75 659 57 20



Ahold divests Thai operation, withdrawal from Asia completed

Zaandam, The Netherlands, March 3, 2004 -- Ahold today announced it has reached
agreement on the sale of its stake in CRC.Ahold, operating in Thailand, to its
partner, the Central Group. The divestment, which is effective immediately, is
the final step in the overall sale of Ahold's Asian operations. The transaction
sum was not disclosed.

Currently, CRC.Ahold Co. Ltd. operates 47 stores and has a wholesale business
delivering to some 300 convenience stores in Thailand with unaudited aggregate
2003 sales of approximately EUR 312 million. Ahold employs about 6,000 people in
Thailand.

The Central Group is one of Thailand's largest private corporations. Central
Group consists of six main divisions: retail, hotels, property, wholesale,
manufacturing and food franchises.

"Ahold has finalized its withdrawal from Asia with the divestment of its Thai
operation," said Theo de Raad, Ahold Corporate Executive Board member
responsible for Latin America and Asia, commenting on the agreement. "We have
every confidence that all our stakeholders, including customers, associates and
suppliers, will continue to flourish under new ownership."

The divestment of Ahold's activities in Asia is part of Ahold's strategy to
optimize its portfolio and to strengthen its financial position by reducing
debt. In 2003, Ahold already completed the sale of its Indonesian and Malaysian
operations.

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 and are intended to be covered by
the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements are subject
to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in those forward-looking statements. Many
of these factors are beyond Ahold's ability to control or estimate precisely.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statement, which only speaks as of the date of this press release. For a more
detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see Ahold's Annual Report
on Form 20-F for its most recent fiscal year. Ahold does not undertake any
obligation to release publicly any revisions to this forward-looking statement
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. 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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                                                  Albert Heijnweg 1, Zaandam
                                                  P.O. Box 3050, 1500 HB Zaandam
                                                  The Netherlands
                                                  Phone:  +31 (0)75 659 5720
                                                  Fax:    +31 (0)75 659 8302
http://www.ahold.com