Exhibit 99.1


News Release

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2000

     DELHAIZE AMERICA AND HANNAFORD BROS. CO. SUBMIT DIVESTITURE PLAN TO FEDERAL
TRADE COMMISSION
Hannaford Bros. Co. to sell 38 locations to three  supermarket retailers

     (SALISBURY,  N.C./SCARBOROUGH,  ME)--Taking  another  step  forward  in the
regulatory  approval  process,  Delhaize  America,  Inc.  (NYSE:  DZA,  DZB) and
Hannaford  Bros. Co. (NYSE:  HRD) today announced the submittal of a divestiture
plan to the Federal Trade  Commission for its  consideration  and approval.  The
submission of the proposal is a required step for obtaining  regulatory approval
of the acquisition of Hannaford by Delhaize America.

The divestiture plan includes  agreements for the sale of 38 Hannaford stores in
Virginia and North Carolina. Twenty Virginia stores will be sold to an affiliate
of Cincinnati-based  Kroger Co.  Winston-Salem-based  Lowe's Foods will purchase
twelve  Hannaford  stores and one site  under  construction  in North  Carolina.
Another  five  North  Carolina  stores  will be sold  to  Richlands,  N.C.-based
Sylvester/Floyd Group, which operates 26 Piggly Wiggly-affiliated  supermarkets.
The three buyers will provide employment opportunities for store employees.

The  divestiture  sales are  contingent  on FTC  approval of Delhaize  America's
pending $3.6  billion  merger with  Hannaford.  Hannaford  and Delhaize  America
believe their divestiture plan fully addresses the antitrust concerns identified
by the FTC  staff  in its  review  of the  Hannaford  transaction.  Following  a
favorable  review of the divestiture  plan, the acquisition  will be reviewed by
the FTC  Commissioners for their approval.  Delhaize and Hannaford  anticipate a
closing date on the Hannaford merger prior to August 1, 2000.

The combined  companies that comprise DZA will generate sales of $15 billion and
garner synergies of $40 million for Delhaize America in the first year after the
Hannaford  acquisition.  The  acquisition  will fuel Delhaize  America's  future
growth and build long-term shareholder value, while positioning DZA as a premier
food  retailer on the East Coast.  The company  will  combine the  strengths  of
Hannaford  with its  existing  Food Lion and Kash n' Karry  banners  to create a
company  of strong  cash  flow,  multiple  banners,  geographic  diversity,  and
complementary best practices.

The strategic  acquisition will strengthen Delhaize America management,  and the
savings and best practices identified by the company will benefit  shareholders,
employees,  and  customers  short-term  as  well  as  long-term.   Hannaford  is
strategically important to Delhaize America, as it gives Delhaize America a new,
strong growth vehicle,  particularly  in the Northeast where Hannaford  operates
more than 100 stores and has plans to open more this year.





News Release
May 31, 2000

Page 2


While the divestiture of these Hannaford  stores was not the preferred  outcome,
Delhaize  America  considered the entire range of divestiture  possibilities  in
valuing the Hannaford acquisition.

Hannaford   stores  in  the  Southeast  had  sales  of  $653  million  in  1999,
constituting  less than 5 percent of the projected  $15 billion in  consolidated
annual sales of the combined  companies and less than 19 percent of  Hannaford's
consolidated  sales.  Because the  southeast  division has  historically  posted
losses,  the impact of the  divestiture  is not  expected  to be material to the
combined companies' results.

Hannaford is selling its Southeast  stores to strong,  committed  operators with
considerable food retailing experience.  That job opportunities be available for
Hannaford  employees  under the new owners was an  important  consideration  for
Hannaford in making its decision.

Once the merger has been  approved,  Hannaford  Bros.  Co., which was founded in
Portland,  Maine in 1883, will own and operate 104 supermarket and food and drug
combination  stores in Maine,  New Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  and New
York.  The company  reported  annual sales and other revenues of $3.4 billion in
1999. Its web site is www.hannaford.com.

Hannaford  will become the third  banner owned by Delhaize  America,  the parent
company of Salisbury,  N.C.-based  Food Lion and Tampa,  FL-based Kash n' Karry,
which together  generated  sales of $10.9 billion in 1999.  With more than 1,400
stores  stretching  from Maine to Florida,  the combined  companies  will be the
fifth-largest  grocery operator in the nation.  For more information,  visit the
Delhaize America website at www.delhaizeamerica.com.

This document contains  forward-looking  statements that involve  uncertainties.
Factors  that  could  cause  results  to  differ  materially  from  those in the
forward-looking  statements  are detailed  from time to time in reports filed by
the Company with the SEC, including Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K.

                                                                  ###


For further information:
For Food Lion, Inc.                         For Hannaford Bros. Co.
Tawn Earnest (Media Relations)              Caren Epstein (Media Relations)
704-633-8250, ext. 2185                     207-885-3132

David Hogan (Investor Relations)             Chuck Crockett (Investor Relations)
704-633-8250, ext 2529                       207-885-2349