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Bottom Dollar Food Expands its Everyday Best Prices;
14 Stores to Open in Washington, D.C., Area

May 17, 2006

SALISBURY, N.C. - Food Lion LLC today announced the opening of 14 Bottom Dollar Food stores by summer's end in the Washington, D.C., area. Select Food Lion stores will undergo a transformation to become Bottom Dollar Food, a full-shop discount grocer.

In a strategy that redefines the discount grocery model, Bottom Dollar Food offers its members both national brands and private label products, in addition to fresh produce and quality meats at discount prices in a light-hearted, upbeat shopping atmosphere.

The first three stores will open in June, serving Fredericksburg, Va. Eight more stores are slated for July in Woodbridge, Alexandria and Dumfries, Va., Frederick, Laurel, and Gaithersburg, Md. In August, another three stores will be opening in Sterling, Manassas and Chantilly, Va.

Bottom Dollar Food stores debuted in High Point, N.C., in September 2005, and North Carolina now has three other locations.

"Through research, we found shoppers want to get the most for their grocery dollars through a price, quality and selection equation," said Bottom Dollar Food Director Tom Anderson. "Bottom Dollar Food offers this by giving customers a grocery experience that offers a variety of brand name products at discount prices."

Some of the ways Bottom Dollar Food is able to drive down prices is by offering the most popular national brands and having customers bag their own groceries. The stores also use no-frills fixtures and alternative display and stocking techniques that are more efficient and cost effective such as cut cases on shelves, pallets and dump bins. Leveraging these changes helps to pass savings on to customers.

"There has been a positive response from the first four stores," said Anderson. "Customers love the concept, and they are pleased that our shelves have six times more products than your typical discount grocers."

"Another way we differ from other discounters is that we have in-store butchers to assist customers with choice cuts," said Anderson. In addition, "we also will offer a localized assortment. We want to make sure we address the need for Hispanic, Asian and other regional items that might interest customers."

Bottom Dollar Food stores are decorated using bright orange and lime green, and store employees wear uniforms in the same colors. There is a light-hearted atmosphere with humorous signs throughout the store that read, "Food prices that kick bottom," and "Watch your step you might trip on the low prices."

In the center of the store is the "Bottom Bargains," section, where customers can find hot deals on market overruns, seasonal items or special offerings on a "while-supplies-last" basis. "Bottom Bargains are like a treasure hunt for exciting, ever-changing products," said Anderson.

Best prices are guaranteed to members through a membership card program. The lifetime membership is only $5, which is offset by a $5 coupon for customers to use at their next visit.

Bottom Dollar Food, a concept from Food Lion LLC, is a discount grocer offering approximately 6,500 different products, which include national brands, fresh produce and quality meats.

Food Lion LLC is a subsidiary of Brussels-based Delhaize Group (NYSE: DEG). Food Lion LLC operates approximately 1,300 supermarkets, either directly or through affiliated entities, under the names of Food Lion, Bloom, Bottom Dollar Food, Harveys and Reid's. These stores meet local customer needs and preferences for the freshest and best quality products. Food Lion LLC employs approximately 73,000 associates in 11 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

Contact: Kimberly Blackburn (704) 633-8250, Ext. 2858