The history of METRO/MAKRO
Founded in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany in 1964, METRO Cash & Carry’s concept was revolutionary at the time: professional customers could select their own purchases all under one roof, pay for them in cash and take the items with them. Over 50 years on, METRO is a leading international wholesale company, with food and non-food assortments specialised in serving the needs of hotels, restaurants and caterers (HoReCa) as well as independent merchants (Traders). Around the world, METRO has more than 15 million customers who benefit from our unique multichannel mix.
2024 – 2020
2024
METRO celebrates its 60th anniversary having repositioned on its roots as a pure wholesaler.
METRO acquires UK food service distribution specialist company Caterite Food & Wineservice.
2023
METRO acquires Swedish food service distribution (FSD) specialist Johan i Hallen & Bergfalk (JHB) that operates in Sweden and Finland.
Hospitality Digital launches DISH POS, an intelligent cloud-based POS system for gastronomy operators, in France and Germany.
2022
METRO withdraws from Belgium and India by selling its local operations to the respective buyers.
METRO strengthens its presence in Austria by taking over of REWE Group’s AGM wholesale markets.
METRO acquires Eijsink, a recognized provider of POS systems for the hospitality industry, to further drive the digitalisation of its gastronomy customers undertaken by DISH Digital Solutions.
2021
METRO winds down its wholesale operations in Japan and ceases its operations in Myanmar.
2020
METRO supports millions of its hospitality customers around the world with dedicated measures, digital tools, public initiatives and solidarity campaigns in the face of COVID-19 pandemic that has brough about restrictions and severe adverse impact on the gastro sector.
METRO takes over Aviludo Group, Portugal’s second largest food service distribution (FSD) player serving more than 13,500 HoReCa customers nationwide.
METRO takes over Spanish FSD company Davigel Sysco in order to strengthen its strategic profile in the Spanish wholesale market. Davigel serves more than 4,000 customers mainly on the Balearic and Canary Islands. It is rebranded to Pro a Pro Spain after the acquisition.
2010 – 2019
2019
The market entry into Myanmar is completed by opening its 1st delivery depot outside Yangon. METRO agrees to sell a majority stake in METRO China to Wumei Group to form a new joint venture in which METRO will hold 20% shares.
METRO Markets, an online marketplace to sell abroad range of non-food assortment, is launched in Germany with a roll-out planned for other European countries.
2018
METRO launches a new global brand campaign focusing even more strongly on customers. The new claim "Your Success is our Business" underscores the brand's ambition.
2017
METRO’s first “zero energy” store is opened in St. Pölten in Austria, with a range of well-designed energy-saving and green applications installed throughout the store for the commitment of sustainability.
2016
METRO’s Own Business Day, an annual global event to celebrate independent businesses, takes place for the first time ever in October and will continue every year on the 2nd Tuesday of each October.
2015
METRO introduces the New Operating Model to give each country subsidiary more entrepreneurial freedom and greater responsibility for operational functions.
DISH Digital Solutions is established to develop and offer competitive digital solutions that contribute to the success of HoReCa customers (hotels, restaurants and caterers).
2014
METRO Cash & Carry celebrates its 50th birthday with its employees, clients and suppliers all over the world. METRO Cash & Carry renews it commitment of being “Champion for Independent Business”.
2013
The company opens 750th store in Chongqing, China. With annual sales of more than €2 billion, the delivery service is one of our most successful sales concepts.
2012
With annual sales of €31.6 billion and 743 locations in 29 countries, METRO Cash & Carry is the leading international player in wholesale. The expansion in China is being accelerated with 12 new openings in one year, a record for the wholesale company.
2011
METRO Cash & Carry celebrates the opening of its 700th store, located in Istanbul. The company starts selling selected product ranges online in some countries. Trader franchise programme for small independent grocery shops kicks off in Poland under the brand “ODIDO”.
2010
An innovative store format is added: city centre stores in Paris catering solely to Horeca customers. The concept is later rolled out to Rome and Madrid.
2009 – 2000
2009
The company starts broadening its service portfolio, piloting a delivery service in Germany which is now available in 29 countries. It also launches a new own brand concept including six own brands focusing on key target groups. The company enters Kazakhstan.
2007
METRO Cash & Carry opens the first store in Pakistan in Lahore. The company’s new opening in Aalborg, Denmark, sets new standards for environment protection and energy saving with extensive technological innovation.
2005
METRO Cash & Carry enters Serbia.
2004
The 40th anniversary sees the company operating over 500 wholesale stores in 27 countries.
2003
METRO Cash & Carry enters Ukraine and India.
2002
The company keeps an eye on the Asian markets: The first stores in Japan and Vietnam open.
2001
METRO Cash & Carry starts trading with two stores in Russia. The country is one of the most promising Eastern European markets. By that time, the wholesale group already operates 15 stores in China.
2000
The Slovakian market is added to the company’s country network.
1999 – 1990
1999
The first METRO Cash & Carry store in Bulgaria opens.
1997
METRO Cash & Carry enters the Czech Republic. All Makro stores are integrated into the METRO Cash & Carry organisation.
1996
METRO Cash & Carry starts out in the fast growing markets of the Far East. The international wholesale group is among the first foreign companies to obtain a licence for the country-wide expansion across China. The first METRO Cash & Carry store opens in Shanghai. In the same year, METRO Cash & Carry enters the Romanian market.
1996 also sees the birth of METRO GROUP, in which METRO Cash & Carry forms the largest sales line. The holding company METRO AG is listed on the German stock exchange.
1994
METRO Cash & Carry is one of the first international trade groups to enter Eastern Europe. The wholesaler opens stores in Hungary and Poland.
1992
With its market entry to Greece, METRO Cash & Carry is present in most of the member states of the European Union.
1990
METRO Cash & Carry enters Turkey and Portugal.
1989 – 1980
1984
20 years after its formation, METRO Cash & Carry operates with more than 100 stores all over Europe.
1980
The right products in the right place at the right time: METRO Cash & Carry was one of the first wholesalers in Germany to systematically manage its inventory electronically.
1979 – 1970
1972
The company opens stores in Spain and Italy.
1971
METRO starts wholesale operations in France, Austria and Denmark, partly under the brand name Makro.
1970
The first Makro store in Belgium opens its doors. By that time, 13 METRO stores have opened in neighbouring Germany.
1969 - 1964
1968
With a Makro store in the Netherlands, METRO Cash & Carry takes the first step abroad, signing a partnership with the Dutch Steenkolen Handelsvereeniging.
1964
The first METRO wholesale store opens in Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany.
