Metro
METRO AG is an international food wholesaler operating cash-and-carry stores (METRO/Makro), food service delivery, and the METRO MARKETS digital B2B marketplace, serving hotels, restaurants, caterers, and independent food retailers across Europe and Asia.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersDüsseldorf, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Metro does
METRO AG is a German international food wholesaler founded in 1964 and headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company operates a multi-channel business model combining brick-and-mortar cash-and-carry stores (METRO and Makro brands), food service distribution (FSD) delivery, and a digital B2B marketplace (METRO MARKETS), serving professional customers including hotels, restaurants, caterers (HoReCa), and independent food retailers across Europe and selected Asian markets. The company employs 10,000+ people and reported €8.6 billion in Q3 2025/26 revenue, with growth driven primarily by delivery and digital channels.
The company's portfolio spans physical wholesale (METRO/Makro stores), digital products (METRO MARKETS, DISH POS cloud-based point-of-sale), private label offerings (METRO Chef veal), and food service delivery. Technology infrastructure is built on a multi-cloud, AI-ready foundation established through partnerships with Wipro (implementation) and Google Cloud (infrastructure), supporting AI-driven supply chain applications via RELEX Solutions and Accenture. Distribution reaches markets including Germany, the UK, Austria, Turkey, Moldova, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan.
In 2024, Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky completed the takeover of METRO AG through EP Global Commerce, taking the company private. The strategic agenda centers on lifting Food Service Distribution to 33% of total sales by 2030, supported by acquisitions such as Caterite Food & Wineservice (UK, £44M revenue, 2,000+ customers) and digital expansion. The Management Board has been extended through 2030, and the company has executed a successful ERP transformation turnaround reducing program duration by approximately 30%. METRO holds SBTi-validated science-based climate targets and operates 1,000+ EV charging stations with a target of 1,500.
Metro firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metro
- Legal name
- METRO AG
- Website
- https://metroag.de
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- METRO AG is an international food wholesaler operating cash-and-carry stores (METRO/Makro), food service delivery, and the METRO MARKETS digital B2B marketplace, serving hotels, restaurants, caterers, and independent food retailers across Europe and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metro industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Wholesale Distribution
- NAICS
- Warehousing and Storage (493), Other Warehousing and Storage (49319)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grocery & Supermarket (Ambient/Dry) Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Foodservice / Restaurant Supply Distribution Centers (TLALAEAJ), Grocery & FMCG Distribution Centers (Ambient) (TLALAEAD), Regional Hub / National Hub Distribution Centers (Multi-node Network Hubs) (TLALAEAN), Wholesale / Club Store Bulk Grocery Delivery (TLAAAHAH)
Keywords
Where Metro is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Düsseldorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Metro business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Food Service Distribution (FSD): Delivery business segment serving HoReCa sector with food products; core growth driver with strategic target to reach 33% of total sales by 2030
- Brick-and-Mortar Wholesale: Physical METRO and Makro cash-and-carry stores serving professional customers including hotels, restaurants, cafés, and small food retailers
- Digital Marketplace (METRO MARKETS): B2B digital online marketplace enabling digital sales channel for products
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Metro product offering
Product offeringCore offering
METRO AG operates a multichannel international food wholesale business combining METRO and Makro cash-and-carry stores with food service distribution (delivery) and the METRO MARKETS B2B digital marketplace. Its primary customers are professional buyers in the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, cafés, caterers) and small independent food retailers, served through bulk wholesale pricing across more than a dozen European and selected Asian markets.
Product overview
METRO AG operates a multichannel wholesale business model combining brick-and-mortar cash-and-carry stores (METRO and Makro brands) with strong delivery services and digital solutions. The core product is the METRO Cash & Carry wholesale operation serving professional customers including hotels, restaurants, caterers, and independent retailers. Supporting this are the METRO MARKETS digital B2B marketplace and METRO Delivery service, with the latter holding a strategic goal to reach 33% of total sales by 2030. Digital solutions include DISH POS (cloud-based point-of-sale for restaurants), while private label offerings include METRO Chef products such as premium veal. The portfolio is complemented by proprietary brands and the METRO Originals content series highlighting supplier partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- METRO Cash & Carry METRO's primary wholesale cash-and-carry business model combining brick-and-mortar stores with delivery services and digital solutions, serving professional customers including hotels, restaurants, caterers, and independent retailers.
- Makro Cash-and-carry wholesale brand operated by METRO AG, complementing the METRO brand in select markets as part of the company's multichannel business model.
- METRO MARKETS METRO's digital B2B online marketplace enabling professional customers to order products digitally, complementing the physical store experience.
- METRO Delivery (Food Service Distribution) METRO's food service distribution and delivery business segment serving the HoReCa sector, with strategic goal to increase FSD share of total sales to 33% by 2030.
- DISH POS Cloud-based point-of-sale (cash register) system offered by METRO to help restaurateurs streamline operations and focus on essential tasks.
- METRO Chef Veal Premium quality veal product under the METRO Chef private label brand, designed for professional kitchens requiring consistent quality and freshness.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue increased 2.3% in local currency (Q3 2025/26)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Metro
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Metro technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Metro partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.
- LEEF Blattwerk GmbHminorLEEF Blattwerk GmbH completed a relaunch at Metro Markets, the digital B2B online marketplace of METRO AG. Relaunch involved complete revision of product assortment to be progressively rolled out.
- Wipro LimitedcoreLarge-scale multi-year data center migration program moving METRO's IT operations from legacy data centers to modern scalable multi-cloud ecosystem. Partnership began in December 2020, extended in June 2025. Wipro Intelligence introduced intelligent automation into user lifecycle management and software development. Migration establishes resilient AI-ready digital foundation supporting cloud-first strategy.
- Google CloudcoreInfrastructure partner providing cloud foundation for METRO's cloud-first transformation and AI strategy. Wipro serves as implementation partner with Google Cloud providing underlying multi-cloud ecosystem architecture.
- RELEX SolutionscoreMETRO implementing RELEX Solutions' technology to improve forecasting, replenishment, and sustainability in fresh food supply chain across stores and distribution centers. Initiative aims to reduce waste, increase product freshness, and streamline operations with AI-driven automation and data analytics in collaboration with Accenture.
- Caterite Food & WineservicecoreAcquisition of Caterite Food & Wineservice in August 2024 to expand METRO's UK food service distribution business. Caterite serves over 2,000 customers and generated £44 million revenue in 2023, focusing on food delivery for HoReCa sector in northern UK. Supports strategic goal to increase FSD share of total sales to 33% by 2030.
- AccenturesupportingCollaborating with RELEX Solutions on fresh food supply chain technology initiative to enhance operational efficiency and support METRO's Ultra Fresh initiative.
- CÉMOIminorPartnership for traceable cocoa supply chains enabling transparent, deforestation-free sourcing from Ivory Coast for METRO's chocolate/confectionery products.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Metro competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sysco Corporation: Global foodservice distribution leader serving hotels, restaurants, and caterers across North America and Europe — directly comparable business model and customer segment to METRO's FSD and HoReCa focus.
- US Foods Holding Corp: US-based broadline foodservice distributor serving independent restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality operators — directly comparable as a wholesale distributor targeting the same HoReCa customer profile as METRO.
- Performance Food Group: US foodservice and convenience distributor with Vistar/Roma branded segments serving away-from-home dining — directly comparable to METRO in business model (broadline wholesale to HoReCa) and segment mix.
- Bidcorp (Bidfood): Multi-region foodservice distributor operating Bidfood UK, Bidvest, and others across Europe, Asia, and emerging markets — closely comparable to METRO's geographic spread and HoReCa customer mix.
- Transgourmet (Coop Group): European cash-and-carry and foodservice distributor owned by Coop Group, operating in Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, and Austria — directly comparable cash-and-carry model competing with METRO/Makro in core European markets.
- Booker Group (Tesco): UK cash-and-carry and wholesale operator serving independent retailers, caterers, and small businesses, owned by Tesco — comparable wholesale business model and SMB customer focus overlapping with METRO's UK Caterite acquisition.
- Selgros (Transgourmet Germany): German cash-and-carry operator serving HoReCa and independent retailers — directly competes with METRO/Makro stores in Germany in the same cash-and-carry format and customer segments.
- Sligro Food Group: Dutch foodservice wholesaler operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany — directly comparable cash-and-carry and FSD business model targeting hotels, restaurants, and caterers across Northwestern Europe.
Broad incumbents
- EDEKA Group: Largest German grocery retailer operating its own wholesale and supply chain structure — broader retail incumbent with overlapping supplier and grocery wholesale capabilities relevant to METRO's German market position.
- Rewe Group: German diversified retail and wholesale group with proximity wholesale, travel retail, and DIY — comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping HoReCa buying group relationships and procurement scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metro social profiles
Digital presenceMetro financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metro leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Metro subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Metro funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metro M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Metro
What does Metro do?
METRO AG operates a multichannel international food wholesale business combining METRO and Makro cash-and-carry stores with food service distribution (delivery) and the METRO MARKETS B2B digital marketplace. Its primary customers are professional buyers in the HoReCa sector (hotels, restaurants, cafés, caterers) and small independent food retailers, served through bulk wholesale pricing across more than a dozen European and selected Asian markets.
Is Metro a public or private company?
Metro is a public company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Metro founded?
Metro was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Metro based?
Metro is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Metro make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Food Service Distribution (FSD) is the primary driver. The others are brick-and-Mortar Wholesale and digital Marketplace (METRO MARKETS).
Who are Metro's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sysco Corporation, US Foods Holding Corp, Performance Food Group, Bidcorp (Bidfood), Transgourmet (Coop Group), Booker Group (Tesco), Selgros (Transgourmet Germany) and Sligro Food Group. Broad incumbents are EDEKA Group and Rewe Group.
Does Metro have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metro.
What industry is Metro in?
Metro's product category is Food Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAAAB, Grocery & Supermarket (Ambient/Dry) Wholesale Distribution, with a secondary code of TLALAEAJ, Foodservice / Restaurant Supply Distribution Centers. Its NAICS code is 493 and its SIC code is 5141.