Casino is planning to enter the Russian market with the purchase of one of the major local supermarket chains. International marketing manager Jean-Marc Susatte was reported as saying he would set up offices in Moscow in September to prepare the ground for an acquisition in 2003. Although there are several possible takeover targets with stores in the 21,500 to 32,300 sq ft range that Casino has specified, local chains Perekryostok and Sedmoy Kontinent are believed to be looking for foreign investment and might therefore welcome an offer from Casino, according to IGD, which is monitoring the market's developments. {{NEWS }}