Coles is moving forward with plans for superstores offering a wider range of merchandise and broadening competition for Wesfarmers other stores Kmart and Target, according to the Australian Financial Review.

The new superstores will be at least two times the size of the current Coles supermarkets, between 4000 square metres and 6000 sq m, compared with Coles' current average store footprint of 2100 sq m, the AFR said.

Coles plans a 30 per cent rise - from the current 10 per cent - in the amount of space devoted to general merchandise and apparel, cooking equipment, homewares, household storage solutions, toys stationary, home entertainment, garden products and outdoor furniture.

The AFR said that a pilot superstore was opened in Melbourne suburb Berwick late last year and another is set to open in Burwood in September.

To read the full story, follow this link: www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Coles-pushes-ahead-with-superstores-report-pd20110718-JUTYV