Metro

Metro is a German wholesale business whose principal brand is associated with large cash-and-carry stores serving professional customers rather than ordinary household shoppers. The company was founded in 1964 in Mülheim an der Ruhr by Otto Beisheim, when the first Metro store introduced a warehouse-style format designed for independent retailers, caterers, hotels, restaurants, and other business buyers. This model combined broad product choice, bulk pack sizes, self-service purchasing, and comparatively efficient store operations. Over time, Metro expanded from Germany into a multinational wholesale group. Its business has included food and non-food merchandise, procurement and logistics, customer delivery, private-label products, and services intended for hospitality and food-service operators. The company’s stores generally carry fresh food, packaged groceries, beverages, household and professional supplies, catering equipment, and selected non-food goods. Its offer varies by market and is shaped by local demand, regulatory conditions, and the requirements of professional customers. Metro’s traditional cash-and-carry business has increasingly been complemented by delivery and digital channels. The group has invested in customer-specific assortment, online ordering, wholesale delivery, and tools for restaurants and other hospitality businesses. Its strategic emphasis is commonly expressed through a focus on HoReCa customers—hotels, restaurants, and caterers—as well as independent retailers and other small and medium-sized enterprises. This differentiates Metro from consumer-facing supermarket chains, even though many of its products are familiar grocery and household categories. The company has changed substantially through portfolio restructuring. Metro separated its former consumer-electronics business, Media-Saturn, from the wholesale operation in 2017, leaving Metro focused more directly on food and professional wholesale. It has also exited or reduced exposure to selected markets over time while expanding or consolidating operations in others. These decisions reflect the capital intensity of wholesale stores, currency and political risks in some countries, and the need to improve returns through a stronger focus on professional customers. Metro operates internationally under the Metro and Metro Wholesale names, with country businesses adapting the format to local markets. The group remains publicly listed and headquartered in Düsseldorf. Its competitive environment includes cash-and-carry operators, food-service distributors, regional wholesalers, supermarkets with business-shopping programs, and digital procurement platforms. The brand’s continuing identity rests on scale, availability, bulk purchasing, professional pricing, and services for businesses that buy food and supplies for resale or operational use.

Metro began in 1964 when Otto Beisheim opened the first Metro cash-and-carry store in Mülheim an der Ruhr, West Germany. The store was built around a then-distinctive wholesale concept: professional buyers could select goods directly from a warehouse-style sales floor, purchase in larger quantities, and benefit from a broad assortment without relying on traditional wholesale intermediaries. The initial customer base included retailers and other businesses that needed reliable access to merchandise at wholesale conditions. The concept expanded across Germany and subsequently into international markets. Metro’s growth was supported by standardized large-format stores, centralized purchasing, logistics capabilities, and the ability to offer both food and non-food merchandise. The format proved particularly useful for independent retailers and hospitality businesses, which often required a wide range of products but lacked the purchasing scale of national chains. Metro later developed country-specific operations and became one of the best-known European cash-and-carry groups. For much of its history, the wider Metro group also had substantial consumer-facing activities. These included the MediaMarkt and Saturn electronics businesses, which became important parts of the group’s portfolio. In 2017, the consumer-electronics business was separated from the wholesale company. The transaction created a more focused Metro centered on food wholesale and professional customers, while the electronics operation continued as an independent listed company. After the separation, Metro concentrated its resources on HoReCa customers, independent retailers, and food-service distribution. The company pursued a multichannel model combining cash-and-carry stores, delivery operations, online ordering, private labels, and digital services. Delivery became increasingly important because restaurants, hotels, caterers, and small retailers often value scheduled supply and assortment availability in addition to physical store access. Metro’s international portfolio has not been static. The group has entered, consolidated, sold, or reduced operations in different countries as market conditions and strategic priorities changed. Its history includes expansion beyond Europe, particularly into parts of Asia, while other businesses have been affected by political risk, currency movements, regulation, competition, and differing levels of demand for wholesale formats. The company has also used acquisitions and local partnerships to strengthen particular markets. The modern Metro business is therefore narrower than the diversified retail group of earlier decades but remains international in scope. It is headquartered in Düsseldorf and operates as a publicly listed wholesale company. Its central proposition is to help professional customers source food, beverages, supplies, and equipment efficiently. The brand’s evolution from a pioneering German warehouse store to a multichannel international food-service wholesaler reflects the broader shift from traditional cash-and-carry retail toward integrated wholesale, delivery, data, and digital procurement.

• 2021

  Steffen Greubel becomes chief executive

  [3]METRO AG managementmetroag.de

  Steffen Greubel took over as chief executive, leading the company during its continued shift toward professional wholesale, delivery, and digital services.

• 2017

  Consumer-electronics business separated

  [2]METRO AG historymetroag.de

  The former MediaMarktSaturn consumer-electronics business was separated from Metro, leaving the listed Metro company focused on food wholesale and professional customers.

• 1996

  Formation of the Metro AG structure

  The group adopted the Metro AG corporate structure during a period in which its wholesale and retail activities were being organized under a broader holding company.

• 1996

  Metro enters the public market

  Metro AG became a publicly traded company, giving the group access to listed-company capital markets.

• 1967

  Expansion of the German wholesale network

  [2]METRO AG historymetroag.de

  The Metro format expanded beyond its first location, developing a larger domestic network and a recognizable national wholesale brand.

• 1964

  First Metro cash-and-carry store opens

  [2]METRO AG historymetroag.de

  Otto Beisheim opened the first Metro store in Mülheim an der Ruhr, establishing the warehouse-style wholesale format that became the foundation of the group.

Professional wholesale partner for hospitality businesses, independent retailers, caterers, and other commercial customers, combining physical wholesale stores with delivery and digital purchasing services.

• Wholesale stores · 1964

  Metro Cash & Carry

  Metro’s core physical format is a large wholesale store designed for registered professional customers. Stores typically combine fresh food, packaged groceries, beverages, frozen products, cleaning supplies, catering goods, and selected non-food merchandise. Assortments and pack sizes are adapted to restaurants, hotels, caterers, independent retailers, offices, and other businesses. The format emphasizes product availability, bulk purchasing, and one-stop sourcing rather than the primarily household-oriented experience of a supermarket.

• Wholesale delivery

  Metro Food Service Distribution

  Metro’s delivery operations supply professional customers directly, reducing the need for restaurant, hotel, and catering operators to visit a store for every purchase. The service can include scheduled deliveries, fresh and ambient food, beverages, and operational supplies. Delivery helps Metro serve customers whose purchasing patterns, storage constraints, or labor requirements make direct fulfilment more useful than self-service wholesale.

• Private-label food and non-food goods

  Metro private-label products

  Metro sells private-label merchandise across food, beverages, cleaning, catering, and other professional-use categories. These ranges are intended to give business customers dependable specifications and a price alternative to branded products. The exact labels and assortment differ by market, reflecting local consumer preferences, sourcing arrangements, and regulatory requirements.

• Digital commerce

  Metro online wholesale services

  Metro has extended its wholesale proposition through online ordering and digital tools. These services support product discovery, account-based purchasing, delivery, and customer relationship management. Digital channels are particularly relevant to professional customers seeking repeat orders, transparent availability, and purchasing processes that can be integrated into the day-to-day operation of a restaurant, hotel, caterer, or independent store.

• 2017

  Separate consumer electronics from wholesale operationsStrategy

  Background

  Metro had operated a diversified portfolio that included the MediaMarktSaturn consumer-electronics business as well as cash-and-carry wholesale. The group determined that the different businesses required clearer strategic focus and separate corporate structures.

  Action taken

  The consumer-electronics activities were separated from Metro, and the remaining listed Metro company was repositioned around food wholesale and professional customers.

  Aftermath

  The separation narrowed Metro’s business scope and made food-service wholesale, delivery, and digital services the central strategic priorities.

  Source

• 2026-11-02

  Metro announces long-term price reductions on hundreds of products in China[5]麦德龙宣布数百款商品长期降价yangtse.com

  On the occasion of its 30th anniversary in China, Metro announced long-term price reductions and unchanged-price quantity increases for hundreds of products, along with additional member savings on a thousand products.

• 2020-11-18

  Metro PLUS membership program launches nationwide[6]麦德龙PLUS会员项目全面上线prnasia.com

  Reported: 2020-11-18

  Metro PLUS officially launched in 11 additional Chinese cities, bringing the paid membership program to all Metro stores in 60 cities nationwide.

• 2020-05-25

  Metro China and Dmall begin broad cooperation[7]麦德龙中国与多点Dmall开展全方位合作tech.sina.com.cn

  Reported: 2020-05-26

  Starting May 25, Metro China began broad cooperation with technology partner Dmall, including rolling out selected chilled and frozen products and cold-chain delivery at four Beijing stores.

• 2020-04-23

  Wumart completes acquisition of 80% of Metro China[8]物美完成收购麦德龙中国80%股权finance.sina.com.cn

  Reported: 2020-04-23

  Wumart completed the acquisition of an 80% stake in Metro China; Metro Group retained a 20% stake.

• 2019-10-11

  Wumart and Metro agree on Metro China joint venture transaction[9]物美与麦德龙就麦德龙中国合资交易达成协议blog.eastmoney.com

  Wumart and Metro announced a final agreement to establish a joint venture for Metro China. Wumart is to hold 70% initially and ultimately 80% after the related transactions are completed; closing was expected by the second quarter of 2020.

1. 1METRO AG official company websitemetroag.de
2. 2METRO AG historymetroag.de
3. 3METRO AG managementmetroag.de
4. 4METRO wholesale websitemetro.de
5. 5麦德龙宣布数百款商品长期降价yangtse.com
6. 6麦德龙PLUS会员项目全面上线prnasia.com
7. 7麦德龙中国与多点Dmall开展全方位合作tech.sina.com.cn
8. 8物美完成收购麦德龙中国80%股权finance.sina.com.cn
9. 9物美与麦德龙就麦德龙中国合资交易达成协议blog.eastmoney.com
10. 10物美收购麦德龙中国完成股权交割 麦德龙保持独立运营finance.sina.com.cn
11. 11物美收购麦德龙中国迎来收官 “麦德龙”品牌保持独立运营food.china.com.cn