CARLISLE, PA March 27, 2004- GIANT Food Stores recently awarded the distinguished Nick Riso Outstanding Achievement Award to Jan Mayhew and Don Gabrys at its annual business meeting March 10, 2004. "We are proud to present this award to both Mr. Gabrys and Mrs. Mayhew, who have demonstrated leadership and dedication that mirror the standards of excellence set by GIANT Food Stores former president, the late Nick Riso," said Tony Schiano, president and CEO of GIANT Food Stores.

Nominees for the Nick Riso Outstanding Achievement Award must:

* Demonstrate an outstanding record of contribution to GIANT Food Stores' success through selfless dedication

* Profile honesty and equity toward others

* Define cooperative spirit and concern for the betterment of the company and all GIANT associates and family

* Make significant and lasting contributions to the companys long term success

* Inspire others through personal example

Mayhew began her career at GIANT in 1978 as a part time cashier. Before assuming her current position of Service Specialist, she held various positions within GIANT Food Stores including: Customer Service Manager, Grocery Manager, Perishable Operations Manager and worked on GIANT's Labor Management System project. Since being promoted to Service Specialist in 1997, Mayhew has also been the Project Manager for GIANT's Jobs Express. Mayhew and her husband of Patrick currently reside in Hagerstown, MD with their two dogs Scrappie and Sophie.

Gabrys began his career at GIANT in 1988 as Vice President of Operations. A few years later, his position was elevated to Executive Vice President. In 1997, Gabrys moved to Tops as the Executive Vice President of Supply Chain where he took on the management of all Tops supermarkets, distribution centers and warehousing facilities. In 2000, Gabrys returned to GIANT as the Executive Vice President of Operations. In that role, he successfully launched the Top Gun Initiative, chaired the Ahold USA Store Operations Networking Committee and spearheaded the conversion of the Laneco stores in the Allentown market. Don has recently taken a new position with Ahold USA as the Executive Vice President for Store Operations Initiatives. In this new position, Don will be working to create a strategic platform for sustaining Ahold USA Store Operations improvements. Gabrys, his wife Lisa, two sons and daughter, currently reside in Dillsburg, PA.

Based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, GIANT Food Stores, LLC employs more than 19,000 associates and currently operates 113 stores in four states. The chain operates under the name GIANT Food Stores throughout Pennsylvania and under the name MARTIN'S Food Markets in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. GIANT Food Stores, LLC was founded in 1923 and is one of the oldest employers in central Pennsylvania. GIANT has a proud tradition of giving back to the communities in which it operates. In 2002 the organization donated more than $10,400,000 to charities involved in fighting hunger, children's hospitals and numerous community programs.

GIANT Food Stores is a part of Royal Ahold, a Netherlands based company. Ahold is a leading food provider in the United States and elsewhere in the world with total sales of approximately USD 52 billion. Over 60% of its worldwide sales are currently generated in the United States.