UPDATE:Heineken Unit:Ahold Chain Removes Products In "Conflict"
14 May 2009 - 11:01PM
Dow Jones News
Dutch brewer Heineken NV's (HEIA.AE) soda drinks unit Vrumona
Thursday said a Dutch grocery chain owned by Ahold NV (AH.AE) will
remove its products from the shelves, citing a "business
conflict."
In a full-page newspaper advert published Thursday said the
Albert Heijn supermarket chain will remove all of its products.
An Albert Heijn spokesperson told Dow Jones Newswires that the
dispute centers around prices. "We aren't in negotiations with
Vrumona anymore, but they indicated in the newspaper advertisement
(they are) willing to resolve the problem as soon as possible, so
we expect that Vrumona will come up with a new proposal soon", the
spokesperson said.
Vrumona director Jan-Kees Nieman said that Vrumona has been in
negotiations with Albert Heijn for several months on the contract
for 2009. Nieman declined to comment on the sales it generates at
Albert Heijn, but said that "Albert Heijn, with a market share of
over 30% in the Netherlands, is an important customer for us".
In February Unilever NV (UN) and Delhaize Group (DEG), a Belgian
retailer, had a similar dispute in which Delhaize removed 250
Unilever products from its shelfs.
Vrumona produces brands such as Royal Club and Sissi and has
license agreements with PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) and Coca-Cola Co.'s (KO)
Dr. Pepper.
-By Anna Marij van der Meulen and Maarten van Tartwijk, Dow
Jones Newswires; +31 20 571 5201;
annamarij.vandermeulen@dowjones.com