Activist hedge funds Centaurus Capital and Paulson & Company have persuaded a second Dutch company to sell off parts of its business just a month after convincing Stork shareholders of the merits of voting in favour of a break-up.

Amsterdam-based Royal Ahold is selling its US Foodservice unit and Tops stores as a result of a six-month management review. Ahold has been under pressure from Centaurus and Paulson to sell some of its units and return money to investors as competition has hurt sales at its US stores.