International News - Major players go for Ahold's stores in Brazilian exit

Dutch retailer Ahold is understood to have received bids for its Brazilian stores and assets from Wal-Mart, Carrefour and CBD.

The deadline for bids for Ahold's businesses in the country, which include the BomPreco chain - the market leader in northeastern Brazil - was last Monday. Ahold is also disposing of its smaller Barbosa chain.

The retailer plans to exit Latin America completely by the end of the year and is disposing of its assets in Paraguay, Peru and Argentina.

Ahold was rocked by an accounting scandal earlier this year, and was due to publish audited results for the 2002 financial year as Retail Week went to press.

Earlier this month, Henny de Ruiter resigned as Ahold chairman.