Auchan has invested over 50 billion rubles ($1.56 billion) in the development of its business in Russia over the ten years of its operations in the country, the company's president Vianney Mulliez said at a news conference, Interfax reported.
Over the course of that decade, Auchan has paid more than 42 billion rubles in taxes and social benefits, he said. Today the Auchan chain features 52 stores in Russia, including 36 classic Auchan hypermarkets, 14 Auchan City hypermarkets and two Nasha Raduga stores.
The French retailer plans to expand its chain to 150 hypermarkets by 2015 to 2017, Mulliez said. It will open seven new stores by the end of this year, including hypermarkets in Samara, Tyumen, Volgograd and St. Petersburg, as well as two Nasha Raduga stores in Kostroma and Yaroslavl, Maria Kurnosova, a spokeswoman for Auchan's Russian division said.
(MT)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.