Ahold forecasts free cash flow of 1.6 bln euros for 2017

Dec 7 Dutch supermarket group Ahold raised its forecast for free cash flow to 1.6 billion euros in 2017 from an estimated 1.3 billion euros this year, as its July merger with Belgium's Delhaize bears fruit. Ahead of a meeting with investors in London, Ahold-Delhaize said it would launch a 1 billion euro stock buyback program in 2017 and hopes to double online sales to 4.6 billion euros by 2020.