Delhaize to sell two US businesses

Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize plans to sell off its businesses in the US as it looks to minimise costs in the region, two sources close to the plan told the International Venture Capital Post. The Belgian grocer’s parent company, Food Lion, has reportedly tapped Lizard to advise on the sale of its Harveys and Sweetbay supermarket businesses, the sources claimed. The company’s CEO, Pierre-Olivier Beckers, said they were seeking options for the businesses but was not available to comment on whether the company had already chosen advisors to supervise the American units. When asked about the selection of the advisors for the sale of the units, Beckers told Reuters at its annual shareholding event that they were yet to make a decision. Delhaize is one of the traditional grocery chains facing threat from mass retailers like Wal-Mart and discounters like Costco as consumers’ budgets tighten.