The merger of Dutch supermarket group Ahold and Belgium’s Delhaize became a reality this weekend when the US authorities gave their go ahead to the deal.

The combined group has annual sales of €50 billion a year, of which some two thirds is booked in the US. In total, it operates 6,700 stores in 11 countries and has 390,000 employees worldwide

Ahold chief executive Dick Boer will lead the new combine and Dehaize’s former CEO Frans Muller is deputy chairman and chief integration officer.

The new group debuted on the Amsterdam stock exchange on Monday, rising 1% to €21.93 in early trading. Ahold was first listed in 1948. The combine is also listed on Belgium’s BEL20 index.

The new company has adopted a new bright green logo and house style, combining the Ahold crown with Delhaize lion.