French chain Auchan is investing around €30m (US$36.0m) in a major extension of its flagship hypermarket at one of continental Europe’s biggest shopping centres, Velizy 2, in the suburbs of Paris.


Auchan has been given the go-ahead to extend its outlet by 3,500 square metres to 19,700 square metres. The hypermarket generates an annual turnover of €350m.


Work is scheduled to take place between spring 2006 and the end of 2007.


Auchan’s extension is part of a €68m facelift for Velizy 2 which welcomes an average of 60,000 shoppers on a daily basis.