Ahold's divestment by stealth: Deploying international divestment activities

Abstract

Purpose

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Positioned as the world's third largest retailer after Carrefour and Wal‐Mart in 2002, Ahold is a major international supermarket and foodservice operator based in Amsterdam. Ahold's founder, Albert Heijn, opened his first grocery store in 1887, and the company first issued shares to the public in 1948 on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Since, then it has been primarily involved in retailing, operating under a variety of food and non‐food formats in western and Eastern Europe, Asia and the USA.

Practical implications

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

Citation

(2007), "Ahold's divestment by stealth: Deploying international divestment activities", Strategic Direction, Vol. 23 No. 7, pp. 8-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/02580540710753382