Group net sales were €20.1 billion, up 0.1% at constant exchange rates, and increased 2.8% at actual exchange rates.
Excluding last year's 53rd week, Q4 Group net sales grew by 6.7% at constant exchange rates. Group net sales were driven by positive contributions from comparable sales growth excluding gasoline of 3.2%, acquisitions, and foreign currency translation benefits, which were partially offset by a 53rd week in 2020.
Q4 Group comparable sales had a net negative impact of approximately 0.1 percentage points, from unfavorable weather impacts, which were partially offset by favorable calendar shifts.
On a two-year comparable sales stack basis, growth for the Group of 14.2% in Q4 2021 compares to the 12.2% growth posted in Q3.
In Q4, Group net consumer online sales grew 13.2% at constant exchange rates versus a 14-week quarter in 2020, due to continued growth at bol.com and the overall online grocery business. Q4 Group net consumer online sales also benefited from the FreshDirect acquisition.
On a 13-week comparable basis, Q4 Group net consumer online sales grew 21.5% at constant exchange rates, which builds on top of 71.7% growth in Q4 2020.
In Q4, Group underlying operating margin was 4.2%, flat compared to the prior year at constant exchange rates, as sales leverage and strong cost-saving initiatives offset higher supply chain costs and inflationary cost pressures. In Q4, Group IFRS-reported operating income was €895 million, representing an IFRS-reported operating margin of 4.4%.
Underlying income from continuing operations was €598 million, up 6.7% in the quarter at actual rates. Ahold Delhaize's IFRS-reported net income in the quarter was €634 million. Diluted EPS was €0.62 and diluted underlying EPS was €0.59, up 10.2% at actual currency rates compared to last year's results.
In the quarter, 9.9 million own shares were purchased for €299 million, bringing the total amount for the full year to €1 billion.
2021 diluted underlying EPS of €2.19 increased 28.8% over the 2019 base, and significantly exceeded the Company's original guidance of mid- to high-single-digit growth versus 2019. This upside compared with the original guidance came from strong food-at-home demand and better than expected Group underlying operating margins of 4.4%, compared to original guidance of "at least 4%."
This drove strong cash generation, with the Company's €1.6 billion reported free cash flow including payments of $190 million (~€170 million) for U.S. pensions following 2020 U.S. MEP withdrawals and approximately €380 million related to a disputed Belgian tax claim. Excluding these two items, 2021 free cash flow would have amounted to €2.2 billion. ■