LANDOVER, MD - In response to the demands being placed on local food banks, Giant Food LLC will be extending its annual Good Neighbor Food and Funds Campaign through January 31, 2004, in an effort to encourage the public to donate non-perishable food or funds to help feed needy families. The campaign, which benefits several food banks throughout Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, was originally scheduled to end on December 31.

"It's difficult to ignore the realities that many food banks are facing so Giant wants to do everything it can to assure that needy individuals and families don't go hungry," said Barry Scher, Vice President of Public Affairs for Giant Food. The public can donate non-perishable food items or make cash donations to local food banks at all participating Giant and Super G stores. Non-perishable food can be dropped off in collection carts located at the front of each Giant or Super G store. Monetary donations can be made at Giant or Super G stores by tearing off a donation slip located at each check out register and contributing $1, $3 or $5.

Last year, Giant's Good Neighbor campaign generated 30 tons of food and over $215,000 for area food banks. Giant has administered their annual Good Neighbor campaign for the past 16 years.

"Combined, the Capital Area and Maryland Food Banks serve over 127,000 people each week," said Bill Ewing, Executive Director of the Maryland Food Bank. "One-third report having to choose between paying for food, or paying for rent, heat or medicine. The local food banks rely on the funds and foods collected from the Good neighbor campaign to help hungry people avoid those tough choices. We really need the public to support the Good Neighbor campaign at Giant Food stores," Ewing added.

For additional information on Giant's Good Neighbor Food and Funds campaign, visit Giant's website at www.giantfood.com or call 301-341-8776.

Giant Food LLC is a member of the Ahold USA group, owned by Royal Ahold of the Netherlands. Ahold USA currently owns six prominent supermarket companies along the eastern seaboard including The Stop & Shop Supermarket company, headquartered in Boston, MA; Giant Food LLC, based in Landover, MD; Tops Markets LLC, with headquarters in Buffalo, NY; Giant Food Stores LLC, based in Carlisle, PA; BI-LO LLC, headquartered in Mauldin, SC and Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc., with headquarters in Birmingham, AL. Jointly they operate over 1,600 stores of which 1,220 are supermarkets. Royal Ahold (NYSE: AHO) is a leading food provider in the United States and elsewhere in the world with total consolidated sales of USD 66 billion.

Ahold N.V.

Ahold N.V.

More from Ahold N.V.