Tesco is planning to open approximately 13 new stores in various formats in Poland by the end of February 2010, Polish media reports. This will help the company to complete its development project in the country for the current fiscal year with the opening of 25 new hypermarkets. At the moment Tesco has already opened 12 hypermarkets in Poland this year.

Tesco hopes to double the size of its convenience store empire — in a move sure to strike fear into the hearts of independent corner shop owners across Britain. The nation’s biggest retailer told City analysts in a private briefing it would step up the expansion of its Tesco Express format. It has about 1,000 small stores and believes there is the potential for 2,000.