Retail expansion planned in 2004 by leading Baltic operator

VP Market, the leading retailer operating in the Baltic countries looks to launch its first retail shop in Warsaw at the start of 2004. The company intends to take over 7% of the retail market in Poland. Lithuanian daily, "Verslo Zinior" reported that the investment will be launched at the end of this year. "Our firm intends to expand in Poland by taking over particular points of sale as well as entire retail networks. It will also acquire lands and construct new shops" said Egidijus Daubaras general manager of NDX Development, owned by VP Market and also registered in Poland. Following the launch of VP market's first shop, the firm intends to concentrate on cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants. By 2007 VP Market's network hopes to have around 1,000 shops. (www.onet.pl) A.Z.