Supermarket chain Ahold (which operates the Albert Heijn stores) has announced a rise in net profit to €214m in the third quarter this year compared to €210m in the same 2006 period.

The result is better than the €168m most analysts expected.
Operating profit in the same period went up 21% to €255m compared to the third quarter last year, Ahold said on Wednesday.
The company also announced it is to reinstate the payment of an annual dividend on its ordinary shares. The level of the pay-out for 2007 will be made public during the presentation of its annual figures on March 6.