By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The headquarters for Delhaize America is staying in Salisbury for now, according to Food Lion’s director of external communications.

Christy Phillips-Brown, director of external communications and community relations for Food Lion, a company of Delhaize America, said the merger is still in the early stages, but there are no changes to the location of the headquarters of Delhaize America at this time, currently at 2110 Executive Drive in Salisbury.

Ahold USA has corporate offices in Carlisle, Pa. and Quincy, Mass.

Delhaize America is now the U.S. division of Ahold Delhaize since Royal Ahold, a Dutch company, and Delhaize completed a $29 billion merger over the weekend. Analysts say the merger will create the fifth-largest grocery chain in the U.S. market and the fourth-largest in the European market.

Phillips-Brown said Kevin Holt will remain the CEO of Delhaize America and the company will continue to operate local Food Lion stores.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued the consent order for the merger on Friday, according to Supermarket News. As part of the merger agreement, the company agreed to sell 86 stores to obey anti-trust laws. No North Carolina stores will be affected.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.