Outperforming most of its competitors in the US market, the Netherlands-based supermarket group Koninklijke Ahold NV - which operates in the US through its Stop & Shop, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle chains and its Peapod internet grocer - reported on Thursday that its second-quarter profit was better-than-expected.

Though the company's second-quarter profit dropped 42.3 percent to euro195 million from the euro338 million figures in the same quarter last year - when a euro162 million gain came from divestment of Schuitema stores -, the profit is still better than what the analysts expected.

Ahold's income from continuing operations increased 8.5 percent to euro192 million from the last year same quarter figures of euro177 million. In addition, the company said that its margin was up from 3.1 percent a year back, and its total sales during the quarter had increased 2.8 percent to $4.1 billion.

About Ahold's second-quarter results, CEO John Rishton said: "We remain well positioned in an increasingly competitive environment to deliver our strategy for profitable growth and manage the balance between sales and margins."

The closest rivals that Ahold outperformed in the US include the Belgium-based Delhaize Group, operating the US' Food Lion, Hannaford and Sweet Bay chains; along with its US-based rivals Supervalu Inc. and Safeway Inc. - all of which have cited price competition and increased promotions for their not-so-enviable performances!