Food Lion merging with Ahold stores

Delhaize, the Belgium-based parent company of Food Lion, is merging with Netherlands-based Ahold. The $29 billion deal will create the third largest grocery chain in the United States, behind Kroger and Albertons.

Delhaize owns the Food Lion and Hannaford chains and Ahold owns Stop & Shop, Giant and Martin’s. Together they total 2,000 stores.

What does this mean for Food Lion shoppers? That remains to be seen. The deal is expected to be finalized in 2016. Ahold stores double coupons and allow coupon stacking in US stores, so maybe Food Lion will offer more generous coupon policies.