Delhaize Group announces nomination of Johnny Thijs as independent member of the Board of Directors

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 7, 2014 - Delhaize Group (Euronext Brussels: DELB, NYSE: DEG), the Belgian international food retailer, announces the nomination of Mr. Johnny Thijs to become an independent member of the Board of Directors.

At the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting, to be held on May 22, 2014, the Board of Directors of Delhaize Group will propose the appointment of Mr. Johnny Thijs as an independent director for a term of three years.

Mr. Thijs started his career in 1974 at Vanderelst N.V. (Rothmans group) as Product & Marketing Manager for Belgium. In 1981, he was named Marketing & Sales Manager at Masterfoods N.V. (Mars Inc.) for Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France. In 1986, he moved to Côte d’Or-Jacobs Suchard and five years later moved to Interbrew N.V. where he started as Executive Vice President before becoming CEO for Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa from 1995 to 1999. In 2000, he was named CEO of Ter Beke.  In 2002 Mr. Thijs joined Belgian Post, where he served as CEO until the end of February 2014. Mr. Thijs is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Spadel SA. He studied commercial sciences at the College of Economic Sciences of the University of Limburg, Belgium.

Delhaize Group

Delhaize Group is a Belgian international food retailer present in nine countries on three continents. At the end of 2013, Delhaize Group’s sales network consisted of 3 534 stores. In 2013, Delhaize Group posted €21.1 billion in revenues and €226 million in net profit. At the end of 2013, Delhaize Group employed approximately 160 000 people. Delhaize Group’s stock is listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels (DELB) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEG).