German discount food chain to open 30 stores by spring

The first stores will be opened in Warsaw, Łódź, Poznań and Silesia. "Aldi is a tough discount player, stressing fast turnover and low prices. With such potential it poses a threat not only to small Polish shops, but also other commercial networks in Poland," said Waldemar Nowakowski, head of the Polish Chamber of Commerce (PIH) and founder of Lewiatan, a chain of 1600 franchised food stores. In his opinion, the expansion of Aldi will result in substantial confusion, th effects of which will include accelerated consolidation of the remaining commercial chains. Analysts agree that the coming years will be dominated by the expansion of discount stores and supermarkets, which will soon enter smaller towns. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) M.M.