US warehouse retailer Costco is planning to enter the French market by 2013.

Costco has appointed property agent CB Richard Ellis to begin the search for possible sites at which to locate its outlets.

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“No precise timetable has been established for the opening of the first outlets but the objective is to have one or two in service in 2013,” a spokesperson for CB Richard Ellis told just-food today (16 September). “Nor has Costco indicated how many outlets in total it is looking to open in France but the aim is to open two to three annually in the years to come.”

Costco has earmarked locations in close proximity to all of France’s major cities, including Paris, Lille and Bordeaux.

It has stated a preference for buying land and building its own warehouse facilities which would total between 12,000 sqm and 14,500 sqm in size. However, it could also consider long-term leases on land and buildings.

Costco operates 580 outlets in nine countries, including 22 outlets in the UK.

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