Grocery operator Edeka says it plans to open about 200 new full-assortment stores in 2012, maintaining its expansion pace of the past two years. The company will invest about e1bn (£860m) next year in the expansion and modernisation of its store network. Most of Edeka’s full-assortment stores are operated by around 4,500 independent retailers, which are supplied by Edeka’s seven regional co-operatives.