METRO China targets expansion

Wholesaler METRO China is eyeing expansion of its B2B business in China and will develop to become a multi-channel specialist in five focus channels.

The company's ambitions were outlined by its president Jeroen de Groot at a press conference in Shanghai on Wednesday.

De Groot said the firm will focus on e-commerce, trader support, welfare, cash and carry wholesale stores, and food service distribution, a new business channel serving hotels, restaurants and canteen customers.

China has become METRO's third largest market worldwide, just behind Germany and France. METRO China has a presence in 53 cities with 76 stores, which saw sales revenue of 17 billion yuan ($2.72 billion) in the 2013 financial year, a year-on-year increase of 8 percent.

"To drive store sales, METRO will enhance the relevance of its cash and carry stores to B2B (business-to-business) core customers, offering tailored assortment, pricing and services to selective customer groups," said De Groot.