Metro, the international leading self-service wholesaler, entered Chinese market in 1995 by establishing the joint venture METRO Jinjiang Cash & Carry Co., Ltd with the Chinese partner Jinjiang Group. A year later, the first Metro wholesale store was opened in Shanghai, bringing a brand-new business concept into China. Over the last decade, the company has set its foot already in 31 Chinese cities with 38 outlets in operation. With a headcount of over 8,500 full-time employees, the wholesaler is serving more than 3 million professional customers across the country. In 2007, the net sales generated in Chinese market grew by 18.5% to RMB 9.52 billion.

Metro, the name stands for one of the great success stories in modern commerce. For more than 40 years, the company has been convincing professional customers with a product range specially tailored to their needs. A Metro wholesale store is to professional customers what a supermarket is to private households. Its customers include hotels, restaurants, shops and grocery stores, caterers, and public offices as well as an increasing number of service providers. The Product range is outstanding in its diversity, quality and excellent price-benefit ratio. Above all, the company’s unparalleled expertise in providing fresh food products sets it apart from other market players.

As a socially responsible company, Metro always combines its business success with community – in China, Metro is a reliable tax-payer who contributes high tax revenues to government; we strictly comply with local laws and regulations; support the development of national infrastructures, and make significant contribution to the improvement of food safety. By new market entries, the company creates considerable employment and career opportunities, transfers know-how and strengthens local suppliers, especially small-and-middle sized enterprises. With its global distribution network, the company helps local producers to bring their products even to international market. Every year, METRO Group sources products with volume of approximately 2 billion Euros directly and indirectly from China.