Castorama plans 15 new stores within five years

Castorama, which has invested zl. 123 million in Poland since it entered the market last year, plans to launch outlets in Warsaw, Poznan and Krakow in 1998. "Poland is a strategic direction for our development," said Castorama financial director Vincent Debels. Next week Castorama's Polish unit will also launch a commercial paper program worth zl. 80 million, to be managed by ING Barings Warsaw. (Rzeczpospolita, page 17, Parkiet, page 3, Reuters)