Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard plans to acquire Polish convenience-store chain Żabka for about €7.5 billion, with completion expected in December. Żabka has stores across Poland, and the company says half of the country’s 37 million residents live within 500 metres of one. The planned takeover was presented as an indication of growing foreign interest in Poland’s consumer economy.

Poland’s economy is expected to grow by 3.4% this year, according to the account, outpacing the Netherlands and the European Union average. Economist Marcin Piątkowski said the country’s diversified economy, relatively low labour costs and expanding consumer market supported its appeal to investors. Poland nevertheless faces a large budget deficit, labour shortages and rising wages that are gradually reducing its competitiveness.