Press Release

[Graphic omitted] Ahold

                                                        Royal Ahold
                                                        Corporate Communications



                                                 Date:  August 25, 2003
                                 For more information:  +31 75 659 57 20



Ahold to divest Golden Gallon in United States

Zaandam, The Netherlands, August 25, 2003 - Ahold today announced it has reached
agreement to sell Golden Gallon, its fuel and merchandise convenience store
operation in the southeastern United States, to The Pantry, Inc. for an
undisclosed sum. The transaction is subject to antitrust approval and the
satisfaction of other conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth
quarter of 2003.

The divestment of Golden Gallon is part of Ahold's strategic plan to restructure
its portfolio to focus on core food businesses.

The assets to be sold include the Golden Gallon operations, working capital and
all of the real estate. Over 1,000 store associates will be transferred to The
Pantry, which also has the option of hiring approximately 70 non-store
employees. Should they not transfer to The Pantry, Ahold is committed to
providing outplacement counseling assistance to any of these associates who may
be displaced.

Ahold acquired Golden Gallon in May 2000. The 138-store chain is centered in the
Chattanooga region and stretches south to Atlanta and north to middle and
eastern Tennessee. Stores are situated along major interstate highways and in
suburban areas. Unaudited net sales in 2002 amounted to approximately USD 375
million.

The Pantry, headquartered in Sanford, North Carolina, is the leading convenience
store operator in the southeastern United States and the third largest
independently operated convenience store chain in the country. The company is
listed on NASDAQ and operates approximately 1,300 stores in 10 states with 2002
sales of approximately USD 2.5 billion.

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. Ahold intends that these statements
be covered by the safe harbors created under these laws. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements as to Ahold's intention
to divest its Golden Gallon operation, the expected timing of completion of this
transaction and Ahold's commitment to providing outplacement counseling
assistance to certain Golden Gallon associates. 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 the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, antitrust
approval, the inability to satisfy, or delays in satisfying, other closing
conditions and other factors and events discussed in Ahold's public filings.
Many of these factors and events 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.
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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