The Hungarian unit of UK supermarket operator Tesco has reported a 26% rise in 2002 sales and said it was planning further expansion in 2003.

Tesco claims to be Hungary’s leading hypermarket chain and the biggest British investor in Hungary, reported Reuters.

Tesco Global Aruhazak posted net sales of 236.8bn forints (US$1.04bn) for 2002, up from 187.6bn forints in 2001.

The company, which employs 12,000 people, has opened 26 hypermarkets in Hungary in the last eight years and has plans to add another five to seven outlets this year.