"We are testing what works well and what doesn't in 2017. Then we have giant plans for 2018-2019 - to open 10 times more stores, more than 2,000 stores," Calmes told reporters in Moscow.

Metro Cash&Carry Russia is currently focused in the Moscow and St Petersburg regions. That will remain the case, although it could also enter new regions, Calmes said.

(Reporting by Olga Sichkar; Writing by Polina Devitt; Editing by Mark Potter)