The board of Ahold Delhaize Pension has decided to postpone its switch to the new pension system by one year to 1 January 2028, at which point it will also transfer its pension administration from Achmea to AZL.

The board made the decision after Achmea announced in July that it would gradually phase out its "unprofitable" pension administration services for external clients by 2030.

Ahold Delhaize Pension, which has been working with Achmea since 2022, having moved its pension administration and execution onto its AllVida platform in May 2024, was one of the schemes required to search for a new pension administrator as a result of this policy change.

It has since confirmed its selection of AZL as its new administrator, based on an existing backup plan and a market analysis, with the scheme set to switch to the new provider from 1 January 2028.

However, the changes will also impact the scheme's switch to the new pension system, as the group confirmed that it has now postponed its transition to the new pension plan by one year, to January 2028.

Further details on transfer amounts have also been delayed, as while the scheme was set to calculate transfer estimates in the autumn of 2026, this will now be moved to autumn 2027.

Due to the postponed transition, the current pension plan will remain in effect for an additional year, and Achmea Pension Services will remain responsible for administration until this time.

Ahold Delhaize Pension board member, John de Waal, commented: "We thank APS for the collaboration over the past few years and for the sound agreements we made regarding the continuation of services until January 1, 2028, and the controlled transfer of pension administration to AZL."

Adding to this, Achmea Pension Service CEO, Tom Bottinga, said: “We will continue to fully support the pension fund until January 1, 2028.

"We look back on the collaboration with appreciation and wish Ahold Delhaize Pension every success in continuing their pension administration. Finally, we would like to emphasize our pride that Ahold Delhaize Pension has confirmed its continued partnership with Achmea Investment Management for asset management.”

---