For Immediate Release
November 29, 2007

Contact:
Michael Norton
(207) 885 - 3132

Hannaford Supermarkets to License Guiding Stars

Nation's First Storewide "Star" Nutrition Rating System could be available in early 2008

(Scarborough, ME) - Delhaize Group-owned Hannaford Supermarkets announced today that it intends to license its Guiding Stars nutrition navigation system early in 2008. The program will be marketed to supermarket chains, vendors, health care groups, and others who are interested in helping people make nutritious food choices.

"With obesity, and related diseases, continuing to be a serious problem, Hannaford is committed to being a part of the broader public health solution," Ronald Hodge, Hannaford’s CEO and president.

The program, introduced in Hannaford stores in September 2006, rates foods throughout the store with 0-3 stars based on nutritional value. In its first year, consumer selection of foods that offered more nutrition for the calories outpaced selection of those that didn't-in some cases, three to four times faster. Data indicate the trend is continuing. The program is currently in place at 164 Hannaford Supermarkets throughout the Northeast and 106 Sweetbay stores in central and western Florida.

Of more than 25,500 rated food items storewide, more than one-quarter (28 percent) receive one, two or three Stars for good, better or best nutritional value.

"Since its inception, we have received numerous inquiries about the program from supermarkets, vendors, schools, health care professionals, and others inquiring about how to obtain Guiding Stars," said Hannaford Senior Vice President Mark Doiron. "Following publication of first-year results, interest has picked up significantly," Doiron said.

Hannaford is working out details of the licensing agreement it proposes to offer.

"Guiding Stars is currently an in-store navigation system," Hannaford spokesperson Caren Epstein said. "It includes signs, shelf tags, an advertising campaign, collateral materials, training materials, a web site, and community outreach, among other elements."

"We can certainly see its adaptability for front-of-package labeling," she said. "What we’re looking at is how it might be modified for other purposes without compromising its integrity."

"The idea for Guiding Stars came from our shoppers themselves," she said "They told us about their confusion and frustration with available nutritional information."

According to Epstein, consumer response has been overwhelmingly positive, with consumer awareness and usage both high.

"Beyond the hundreds of written testimonials and phone calls we’ve received, our customers have changed what they’re buying. More than a billion food product decisions have been made since Guiding Stars was launched."

"We know we have a program that works and has demonstrated results," Doiron said. "We’re optimistic about the opportunity to share it with a broader audience."

Guiding Stars Background
Hannaford’s Guiding Stars system, introduced in September 2006, has analyzed, evaluated and rated more than 25,500 food items in all Hannaford stores to date. The system features one, two or three Star ratings - representing good, better or best nutritional value, respectively, on unit price tags throughout all Hannaford stores.

The foundation of Hannaford’s Guiding Stars navigation system is a proprietary formula (patent pending) that analyzes food products and assigns them a rating. Developed by an expert scientific panel, the formula credits a food’s score for the presence of vitamins and minerals, fiber and whole grains. It debits the score for trans fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, added sugars and added sodium. The criteria support the recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 and offer a quick complement to the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredient list.

Guiding Stars relies on information that is readily available to the consumer and provided through the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredient list. If the food is not packaged - as with fruits, vegetable and meats - the data comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Advisory panel members are from the University of North Carolina, Dartmouth School of Medicine, Tufts University, the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, Harvard University and the University of California-Davis.

Hannaford Bros. Co., based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 164 stores under the Hannaford Supermarket and Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy names. Hannaford stores feature Guiding Stars, America’s first storewide nutrition navigation system. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. The company is owned by Delhaize Group of Brussels, Belgium. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.