Casino stakes its chips on Opole

Casino Group, along with its development subsidiary Mayland Real Estate, is planning a EUR 52 (zł.207) million investment in Opole. The companies will build a 65,000-sqm shopping center on ul. Wrocławska. Construction works will be launched this year, and the new complex is scheduled for completion at the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008. By the end of 2009 Casino wants to open six shopping centers in Wrocław, Słupsk, Dšbrowa and three other cities across Poland.

"The complex will be essential for the region, extending and modernizing the retail offer for the residents of Opole and the whole region. Such a large project will attract other investments. So far such large shopping centers have only been located in larger cities of Lower and Upper Silesia," says Anne Plaisance, communication director at Mayland Real Estate

The Opole complex will host 150 shops and boutiques, a hypermarket, an interior-design center, restaurants and cafes and parking lots for 1,500 cars. The new center will provide some 1,500 jobs after completion and about 300 during the construction process.

The Casino Group has been present on the Polish market for 15 years and has opened 13 centers so far. In total the company owns over 10,000 supermakets, shops and restaurants in 13 countries and employs 208,000 workers. Last year, its consolidated net sales reached EUR 22.8 (zł.90.6) billion.