For Further  Information  Contact:  Charles H. Crockett Assistant Secretary
207-885-2349 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17,1999



     HANNAFORD  REPORTS SALES FOR MAY AND ANNOUNCES THE RESIGNATION OF ITS CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER

     Scarborough,  Maine:  Hannaford Bros. Co. (NYSE-HRD),  multi-regional  food
retailer,  reported  today that its sales and other  revenues for the four weeks
ended May 29, 1999, were $267,209,000, an increase of 5.3% over the $253,741,000
reported for the same period last year.

     Sales and other revenues for the twenty-one  weeks ended May 29, 1999, were
$1,349,415,000,  up 5.0%  over the  $1,284,989,000  achieved  during  the  first
twenty-one weeks of 1998.

     Hannaford also announced  today that its Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer,  Blythe J. McGarvie has resigned from the Company and will be
leaving on June 25, 1999, to become Vice President and Chief  Financial  Officer
of Societe BIC, headquartered in Paris, France.

     Hugh G. Farrington,  President and Chief Executive  Officer,  said, "Blythe
enjoyed  extensive  international  experience in her previous position with Sara
Lee, and the  opportunity to return to the  international  scene and to live and
work in Paris is too good for her to pass up. During her tenure at Hannaford she
has led  substantial  change efforts in the areas of Information  Technology and
Accounting.  We thank  her for her many  contributions  and wish her well as she
pursues her interest in international finance and technology."