Metro AG

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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).[2] In English it often refers to itself as Metro Group. It was established in 1964 by Otto Beisheim.
Contents [hide]
1 Sales divisions
2 International presence
3 Financial performance
4 Future plans
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
[edit]Sales divisions

The company operates the following sales divisions:
Metro and Makro Cash and Carry (Makro stores in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe were acquired from SHV Holdings 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.
Real: A hypermarket operator. 265 stores in Germany and 34 elsewhere as of early 2005.
Media Markt and Saturn: 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 store chain with locations in Germany and Belgium ("Inno").
As of 2007 it has added the former Wal-Mart Germany stores to the Real chain.
[edit]International presence



Metro Group around the world
As of 1 Jan 2007, the Metro Group operated stores in the following countries:
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.
[edit]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 other's of its global competitors.
[edit]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 ISAF 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.[3]