The Ramstore supermarket chain continued its rapid expansion this week with the opening of a 14th store in Moscow.

The new store is on the corner of Miklukho-Maklaya Ul. and Provsoyuznaya Ul. in Belyayevo-Borogodskoye district.

Ramenka, the company that operates and develops the chain plans to open four more Moscow outlets this year.

It is also expanding to other cities and regions, with three stores planned for St. Petersburg and one store each in Krasnoyarsk, Kazan, Podolsk, Samara and Tolyatti by 2003.

Ramenka reported a turnover of $250 million in 2001, up from $125 million in 2000, and plans to double the figure to $500 million by 2004.

The new Moscow store is classified as a hypermarket with "one-stop shopping."

Its first floor features groceries and household items while the top level houses a food court including McDonald's and boutiques leased by chains such as Carnaby, Hallmark, Naf Naf, Wolford and Sinequanon – familiar names on the Russian retail market.

Ramenka spokeswoman Saba Karabey said: "Ramstore is managing to stay competitive through its substantial investments in the Russian market and our customer-orientated approach, which is not just low prices, but quality products."

Karabey said Ramstore has introduced a unique club card system that offers discounts at all stores, and sweepstakes which are available at the main Ramstore trade center on Yartsevskaya Ul. in Kuntsevo district.

The new store had a little trouble handling the onslaught of opening-day customers on Thursday – mostly housewives, a major driving force on the world economy. Lines were backed up into the aisles and waiting times reached 40 minutes.

Originally, the store planned to open an express lane for customers with less than five items. But customers were later told it would not be open for the first day of business.

Ramstore is also currently conducting a fall marketing campaign through October 13, entitled "Tsenopad," or "Fall of Prices," to entice club card holders. During this period, prices on an array of items have been slashed by 15- 35 percent.