Metro AG
Encyclopedia
Metro AG is a diversified retail and wholesale
/cash and carry
group based in Düsseldorf
, Germany
. It has the largest market share in its home market, and is one of the most globalised retail and wholesale corporations. It is the fourth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues (after Wal-Mart
, Carrefour
and Tesco
). In English it often refers to itself as Metro Group. It was established in 1964 by Otto Beisheim
.
As of 2007 it has added the former Wal-Mart Germany stores to the Real chain.
As of 1 Jan 2007, the Metro Group operated stores in the following countries:
Europe
Asia
Africa
Canada's Metro Inc. is not affiliated.
In the early years of the 21st century, Metro had at that moment a lower growth rate than many of its global competitors.
forces.
They also split off and floated their *Praktiker
division in December 2006, a DIY/home improvement
chain with stores in several countries.
In June 2009 it was reported that the company was looking to purchase some of the assets of Arcandor
, after the firm filed for bankruptcy.
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
/cash and carry
Cash and carry (wholesale)
Cash and carry wholesale represents a type of operation within the wholesale sector. Its main features are summarized best by the following definitions:...
group based in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It has the largest market share in its home market, and is one of the most globalised retail and wholesale corporations. It is the fourth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues (after Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour S.A. is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Levallois-Perret, France. It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world...
and Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
). In English it often refers to itself as Metro Group. It was established in 1964 by Otto Beisheim
Otto Beisheim
Otto Beisheim is a German businessman and founder of Metro AG.In 2010, his net worth was estimated at US$3.6 billion; he is #249 on the Forbes list of billionaires.-WWII:...
.
Sales divisions
The company operates the following sales divisions:- Metro and Makro Cash and CarryMetro Cash and Carry-Romania:METRO Cash and Carry was one of the first international food and non-food retail chains to enter the Romanian market, opening its first store in 1996 in Bucharest, near Henri Coandă International Airport....
(MakroMakroMakro is a Dutch chain of Warehouse clubs, also called cash and carries. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and...
stores in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe were acquired from SHV HoldingsSHV HoldingsSHV Holdings is a privately owned Dutch trading company, regarded as one of the world's largest private trading groups. SHV have interests in transport, retail, oil and financial services, including part of the Makro cash-and-carry chain.-History:...
in 1998): This division accounts for nearly half of group sales as of 2004, and is by far the most internationalised division, with stores in almost every country in which the group operates. - RealReal (hypermarket)Real is a European hypermarket, member of the German trade and retail giant Metro AG.In 2006 Metro acquired Wal-Mart's 85 stores in Germany and in Poland, bought 26 hypermarkets Géant from the French retail group Groupe Casino...
: A hypermarketHypermarketIn commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise...
operator. 265 stores in Germany and 34 elsewhere as of early 2005. - Media MarktMedia MarktMedia Markt is a German chain of stores selling consumer electronics with numerous branches throughout Europe. It is Europe's largest retailer of consumer electronics.-History:...
and SaturnSaturn (store)Saturn is a German chain of electronics stores, now found in several European countries. Saturn sells household appliances, home entertainment, and media such as CDs and DVDs. With Media Markt it constitutes MediaSaturn Holding, owned by the German retail trade company METRO...
: Media Markt is a consumer electronics company with stores in Germany and several other European countries. Saturn is an electronic media chain, also with stores in Germany and some other European countries. - Galeria Kaufhof: A department storeDepartment storeA department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
chain with locations in Germany and Belgium ("Inno").
As of 2007 it has added the former Wal-Mart Germany stores to the Real chain.
International presence
Europe
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Moldova
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Pakistan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Africa
- Egypt
- Morocco
Canada's Metro Inc. is not affiliated.
Financial performance
In the 2003 calendar year, Metro Group had sales of €53,965 million. Profit before tax was €817 million, and group net profit was €496 million.In the early years of the 21st century, Metro had at that moment a lower growth rate than many of its global competitors.
Future plans
The Metro group is looking towards expansion in Asia and Europe. The Metro group has announced plans to expand its operations in Algeria, Pakistan, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Egypt. The Metro Group may also be commissioned by the German government to expand operations into Afghanistan's economically stable north, the region patrolled by German ISAFInternational Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
forces.
They also split off and floated their *Praktiker
Praktiker
Praktiker is a German hypermarket chain offering home improvement and do-it-yourself goods. It is based in Kirkel, Saarland, and opened its first store in 1978. Initially owned by ASKO, the chain became a division of Metro AG after the merger of ASKO with Metro Cash & Carry in 1995...
division in December 2006, a DIY/home improvement
Home improvement
Home improvement, home renovation or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home.-Types of home improvement:...
chain with stores in several countries.
In June 2009 it was reported that the company was looking to purchase some of the assets of Arcandor
Arcandor
Arcandor AG is a holding company located in Essen, Germany that oversees companies operating in the businesses of mail order and internet shopping, department stores and tourism services. It was created in 1999 through the merger of Karstadt Warenhaus AG, which was founded in 1920, and Quelle...
, after the firm filed for bankruptcy.
See also
- European Retail Round TableEuropean Retail Round TableThe European Retail Round Table is a European organisation which represents companies from the European retail sector. Together the members employ about 2.3 million people and have a turnover of €400 billion.The organisation is based in Brussels, Belgium....
- Metro Cash and CarryMetro Cash and Carry-Romania:METRO Cash and Carry was one of the first international food and non-food retail chains to enter the Romanian market, opening its first store in 1996 in Bucharest, near Henri Coandă International Airport....