French retailer Auchan is set to open three new outlets in Portugal by the end of the year, according to press reports in the country.

The new stores would extend the group's network to 22 outlets in the country, and will be launched under the Pao de Acucar banner in Faro, Caldas da Rainha and Guarda, Agencia Financeira reported.

With the expansion, Auchan will end 2008 with a total retail space of 144,000m2 in Portugal, consisting of 18 Jumbo hypermarkets and four Pao de Acucar supermarkets.