TOMRA and Royal Ahold sign global supply agreement
Ahold is one of the most rapidly growing international food retailers in the world, with leading supermarket companies in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
Ahold was one of the very first international customers of TOMRA, and our relationship in Europe goes back more than 25 years.
During the 80s and 90s, Ahold expanded rapidly into the US market, and is now the leading supermarket operator along the eastern seaboard with more than 1000 stores in five operating companies: Stop & Shop, Gian-Landover, Giant Carlisle, Tops Markets and BI-LO. In 1999 Ahold successfully established a joint venture with the ICA Group, a leading Scandinavian food retailer with more than 3.100 stores in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltics. This venture turns Ahold into a leading European food provider with annual sales of approaching 20 billion Euro. Total group sales amount close to 50 billion Euro, operating over 7.000 stores in more than 25 countries world wide.
Tomra is currently servicing Ahold throughout most of their US businesses, and in most countries in Europe, but the new agreement opens up for further expansion into areas currently serviced by TOMRAs US competitor and in new territories.
The international structure of TOMRA, with representation in 32 countries, makes TOMRA an ideal global partner to Ahold.
Ahold is continuously focusing on generating substantial added value by being able to achieve knowledge transfer and economics of scale throughout the group. This global partnership agreement, the fourth in a series of global supplier contracts for Ahold, acknowledge the strategic importance of reverse vending technology in the operation of food retail stores.
This agreement represents approximately 250 MNOK in turnover over the next 3 years, and opens up new business opportunities with Ahold both in Europe, US and Latin America.
<br>Any further information can be obtained from; <br>Erik Thorsen, President & CEO of The Tomra Group, +47 66 79 92 00 <br>Val Stalowir, President of Tomra North America Inc., +1 203 380 5230 <br>Morthen Johannessen, President of Tomra Europe AS, +47 66 79 92 20 <br> <br>Asker, April 13, 2000 <br>TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA <br> <br>Erik Thorsen <br>President & CEO <br> <br>