Ahold May Be Interested in Parts of Albertsons

Royal Ahold, the owner of Stop & Shop and Giant stores, may be interested in buying parts of Albertsons Inc., Royal Ahold Chief Executive Anders Moberg said.

He ruled out buying all of Albertsons, the second-largest U.S. supermarket company. Moberg said he had had no contact with Albertsons CEO Larry Johnston. Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons put itself up for sale last month.

Ahold is looking to expand again after a divestment program to pay down debt after inflating profit for three years. Moberg now wants to make “fill-in” acquisitions in markets where Ahold already operates to help fend off Wal-Mart Stores Inc.