METRO is celebrating 30 years of existence in Hungary

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 10. 30. 11:45

Together with its partners and colleagues, METRO celebrated the 30th anniversary of its existence in Hungary at Millenár on October 24, 2024. Nearly 700 people from METRO’s network of tens of thousands of people took part in the round birthday: suppliers, professional customers, professional collaborators, colleagues working in various fields.

METRO anno

The first Hungarian stores of the Düsseldorf-based METRO Cash & Carry group opened on August 11, 1994 in Budaörs and Ferencváros after several months of preparation. The department store chain was the first international company that started operating in Hungary after the regime change, introducing a completely new kind of product range and corporate culture to our country. Members of the middle generation and many of the older ones still vividly remember the crowd scenes that took place when the stores opened: no wonder, since at the time of its inception, the wholesale trade, which was only available to businesses, was the source of the bulk purchase of the desired Western products.

METRO now

Over the years, METRO Nagykereskelim developed into a chain consisting of 13 stores and nine delivery platforms in Hungary, and although the key target groups – professional customers in the hospitality industry and independent retailers – have not changed, private individuals have also been able to shop in the stores for years now. Since 2022, the department store chain has gradually returned to its roots thanks to a new strategy, but bulk sales in stores (Cash & Carry) have now been expanded with two other channels, delivery and digital business. The new model is also reflected in the pricing: the popular More for cheaper product basket now includes nearly 5,000 products, and the range is constantly expanding.

30 years of cooperation

Connecting for 30 years – this is the jubilee slogan, referring to the close relationship that exists between METRO’s employees, supplier partners and customers. The background of this relationship is product development based on the needs of key target groups, in close cooperation with suppliers, using carefully selected raw materials. It is no coincidence that the goods developed in this way, METRO’s own brand products (METRO Chef, METRO Premium, METRO Professional, Rioba, ARO, Fine Life, Sigma and Tarrington House) are extremely popular and successful: their share in sales is now over 30%.