Ahold Delhaize acquires Tesco in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Ahold Delhaize has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Tesco’s Czech and Slovak operations. The retailer says this move represents a significant opportunity to strengthen its position in Central and Southeastern Europe.

New market

News that Tesco wanted to divest its operations on the European continent broke last summer, and Ahold Delhaize had already been mentioned as a potential buyer. That has now been confirmed. The retailer is acquiring a network of more than 360 company-owned supermarkets, hypermarkets, and neighborhood stores, plus more than 100 franchise stores, which together generate approximately 3.5 billion euros in revenue and employ more than 14,000 people.

The transaction expands Ahold Delhaize’s scale in Central and Southeastern Europe and also brings the group into a new market, as the retailer had not yet been active in Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, the combined operations of Albert and Tesco are expected to become the market leader.

Ahold Delhaize is paying approximately 1.2 billion euros for the acquisition. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.