Following a downfall in its investment projects, the German wholesale hypermarket chain is planning to go back to the pre-recession expansion rates in Russia next year, Interfax refers to Jeroen de Groot, Managing Director Metro C&C Russia at Metro Cash and Carry as announcing.

Now the chain’s investment program shrank considerably in 2009 and 2010: for one, Metro Cash & Carry set up nine new shopping centers in Russia in the year 2008 but only four in the year 2009, so the total number of Metro’s Russian stores reached fifty-two.

According to Metro representatives, the company expects to launch at least three stores in Tomsk, Kaliningrad, and Yekaterinburg this year.