UPDATE 2-Delhaize Q4 sales light as U.S. slowly eases

* Q4 sales 5.24 bln euros vs 5.26 bln euros expected

* U.S. like-for-like sales -0.8 pct vs -0.5 pct expected

* Belgium like-for-like sales +3.8 pct vs +1.9 pct expected

* Keeps 2010 operating profit outlook

* Release had been due early on Friday (Adds details on the quarter)

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Belgian supermarket group Delhaize (DELB.BR) narrowly missed market forecasts for quarterly revenue after the declining sales trend in the United States, its main market, did not ease as much as expected.

In a release almost 12 hours earlier than expected, the retailer said fourth-quarter revenue rose 7.6 percent, or 1.5 percent at identical exchange rates, to 5.24 billion euros ($7.03 billion), against expectations of 5.26 billion euros in a Reuters poll of 13 analysts.

No one at Delhaize was available to explain why the figures had been released early.

In the United States, where Delhaize generates 70 percent of its sales, like-for-like revenue fell by 0.8 percent against expectations for a 0.5 percent fall. That compared with a 1.8 percent drop in the third quarter.

Delhaize said that its more cost-conscious Food Lion stores, mostly in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, were improving, while Hannaford, a more upmarket chain operating in the Northeast, had an outstanding quarter. Inflation had also returned.

Dutch peer Ahold (AHLN.AS) said earlier on Thursday it had seen tough trading in its main U.S. market. [ID:nLDE70I151].

Comparable sales in Delhaize's other main market, Belgium, rose by 3.8 percent, double the consensus expectation of 1.9 percent, with market share gains and strong holiday sales despite cold and snow.

French competitor Carrefour (CARR.PA) last week said it saw its first quarterly like-for-like sales growth in six years in Belgium. [ID:nLDE70B15C]

A number of European peers have blamed bad weather for end-of-year sales disappointments.

Delhaize reiterated its guidance from last August for 2010 operating profit range variation of minus 2 percent to plus 2 percent versus 2009 at identical exchange rates and excluding 44 million euros of restructuring and impairment charges.

August's guidance was lower than previous expectations for growth of between 2 and 5 percent.

Delhaize shares have climbed 4.5 percent in the past 12 months, compared with a 6.9 percent rise of the Stoxx European retail index .SXRP.

Chief Executive Pierre-Olivier Beckers said in a statement Delhaize was confident it would achieve higher growth in the coming years by investing annual savings set to reach 500 million euros by the end of 2012 in competitive prices and its own brands.

Delhaize's full-year results will be unveiled on March 10.

Delhaize said it planned accelerated investment of about 900 million euros in 2011, including 120 to 130 new stores and 120 refits. Some 20 stores would close. The net addition of 100-110 stores compares with 68 last year.

The focus would be newer markets Greece, Romania and Indonesia and lower cost formats Bottom Dollar Food in the United States and Red Market in Europe. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Dave Zimmerman, Bernard Orr) ($1=.7454 Euro)