Delhaize sales increased in Q1 2013

Belgian grocer Delhaize said its underlying operating profit rose 13.7 percent to 214 million euros ($280 million) in the first quarter, beating analysts' forecasts by about 20 percent.

Delhaize also noted that its underlying operating margin in the United States rose to 4.2 percent from 3.7 percent in the same period last year, while its margins in Belgium climbed to 5.1 percent from 4.6 percent, Reuters has reported.

Delhaize's revenues from sales grew as much as 64 percent in the USA and 22 percent in Belgium in the first quarter of this year, thus reaching a total of EUR 5.5 billion.

The group also predicted a full-year profit of 775 million euros, below the 810 million achieved in 2012, but better than many analysts' expectations.