Dixis is on target for 300 stores

Russian mobile phone retailer Dixis is to double store numbers from 150 to 300 within the next 18 months.

Dixis plans to open stores in 20 of Russia's largest cities. The majority of its existing shops are in Moscow and St Petersburg - six outlets have opened in the St Petersburg area in recent weeks. The group sells mobile phones and accessories for Russia's three main network operators.

Dixis has also unveiled a new store look, by UK design consultancy SCG London, which will be introduced across the portfolio. According to SCG, the retailer plans to keep 20 per cent of its existing stores and will replace the rest with larger premises throughout the year. The rebrand will cost up to US$7 million (£3.9 million).

'The potential for expansion in Russia is huge, and the company does have quite a bit of financial backing. The idea is to open larger and better-designed stores across a wider area,' said an SCG London spokesman.

Dixis, which was set up in Moscow three years ago, is the biggest mobile phone retailer in Russia, one of the fastest growing mobile phone markets in Europe. The growth is to be funded via a mix of internal and external investment.