text: Ahold launches Asian food discount stores. ZAANDAM, Netherlands 1996-12-06 
   Dutch supermarkets group Ahold NV said on Friday it had launched a second food store format for Asian consumers today, opening 16 BILO food discount stores in Malaysia. The BILO stores are located in Malysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and in the country's second city Johor Bahru. The discount price format store BILO is to complement Ahold's full service supermarket TOPS, recently launched in Asia. " In the coming five to ten years, Ahold plans to open many more stores of both formats, making TOPS and BILO household names in the region, " Ahold said in a statement. As well as its activities in Asia, Dutch retail group Ahold has a strong presence in Europe, in the U. S. and the company recently announced a joint venture agreement in Brazil. Ahold has annualised sales of approximately US$24 billion, and employs 180, 000 people worldwide. --Amsterdam newsroom +31 20 504 5000, Fax +31 20 504 504
competitors: Ahold Asian ZAANDAM Netherlands Dutch Ahold NV Asian BILO Malaysia BILO Malysia Kuala Lumpur Johor Bahru BILO Ahold TOPS Asia Ahold TOPS BILO Ahold Asia Dutch Ahold Europe U.S. Brazil Ahold US$ Amsterdam