Dixi to slow investment in 2009/approached by smaller chains

The Vice President of Dixi in Russia, Ilya Yakubson, said at the end of last week that the retailer will reduce investments to around USD90 million in 2009 after spending USD180 million so far this year. He said that the company will only invest in stores with a pay-back period of up to 18 months. He also said the company expected to generate sales of USD2 billion in 2008, an increase of around 40% from 2007, and would open a further 40 stores before the end of the year, bringing its total to 488 outlets. Yakubson also revealed that Dixi has been approached by small chains seeking to be bought out for symbolic sums plus assumption of debts, stating the company had received buyout proposals mainly from regional chains.

planetretail.net