Hannaford Bros: Elects New Chairman

                                     






                                                                               
                                               Charles H. Crockett
                                                                               
                                               Assistant Secretary

                                                                               
                                               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                               
                                               May 12, 1997

     DR. WALTER J. SALMON ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Scarborough, Maine, May 12, 1997: Hannaford Bros. Co. (NYSE-HRD), a multi
regional food retailer, today announced the election of Dr. Walter J. Salmon as
Chairman of the Board.  Dr. Salmon replaces James L. Moody, Jr., who retired as
a member of Hannaford's Board at today's Annual Meeting.  Mr. Moody has served
as a Hannaford Director since 1967, and as Chairman of the Board since 1984.  

Dr. Salmon is the Stanley Roth, Sr. Professor of Retailing at the Harvard
Graduate School of Business Administration, Boston, Massachusetts.  He earned
his BBA degree from the City College of New York and his MBA and DBA degrees
from Harvard Business School.  Dr. Salmon has served as a consultant to
Hannaford  and has served on the Board of Directors since 1964.  He was
Chairman of the Board from 1981 to 1984, and has been Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Board since 1981.  Dr. Salmon is also a Director of
Luby's Cafeterias, Inc., Circuit City, Inc., The Nieman Marcus Group, Inc., The
Quaker Oats Company and Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.


Ends.