Ahold Delhaize's U.S. operations posted e-commerce sales growth of 14.3% in the first quarter of 2026, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit online expansion. Net and comparable-store sales increased 1.5% in the period, a modest gain overshadowed by structural headwinds.
CEO Frans Muller attributed the slowdown to a sharp deflation in egg prices, the Inflation Reduction Act's impact on pharmacy pricing, and lower SNAP eligibility. CFO Jolanda Poots-Bijl told investors that pharmacy pricing alone will reduce reported and comparable sales by approximately 450 million dollars across 2026, while egg price volatility is expected to ease after the second quarter.
The company achieved record omnichannel penetration of 10% in Q1, with some banners already exceeding 11%. Online sales through third-party partners such as Instacart grew by over 20%. Private label brands continued to outpace the rest of the store in both sales and volume.
Ahold Delhaize plans to accelerate Stop & Shop's store remodeling program with more than 40 remodels planned for 2026 and will roll out price investments to all Stop & Shop locations by year-end. The company is also managing elevated energy costs through longer-term contracts and increased renewable energy use, while pressing suppliers for proportional and transparent cost increases.