Dutch value retailer Hema is pressing forward with European expansion plans and has announced the opening of its first two stores in London in summer 2014.

A spokesperson told just-food “if everything goes to plan”, the Victoria Place and Kingston stores would open by summer. She did not comment on speculation that ten stores were planned for London this year.

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“Hema has the ambition to become a European player. We obviously want to open as many stores in the UK as possible but this depends, however, on many factors. We will first concentrate on this new stores and of course we hope it is a great success and the English will embrace Hema”.

The firm has said it will “evaluate the performance properly” after the first six months of opening.
Hema’s international format stores will include food, drink and household goods as part of its wider retail offering.

“Of course we take care of the needs and wants of the English customers. In the beginning we will continuously monitor ‘what does well and what less?’ And then adjust,” added the spokesperson.

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