E. Leclerc plans zl.200 million supermarket investment

E. Leclerc, one of the powerhouses on the Polish retail market, has an nounced plans to invest zl.200 million in the further development of its supermarket network. According to an anonymous representative of the French group, "The money will be allocated mainly for the construction of sup ermarkets with a floor space of some 2,000 square meters. This year we will begin building five stores. We plan to complete four or five each year." E. Leclerc already operates nine hypermarkets in Poland, each with a floor space of around 6,000 square meters. According to Anna Zajbert, consultant with real estate agent CB Richard Ellis, retail investors are becoming more attracted by smaller stores in towns with fewer than 150,000 people, because of the growing competition in big cities. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) P.W.