Prettier METRO

METRO changed its market strategy two years ago and has remodelled half of its stores since then. The result is spectacular. METRO Cash & Carry focused on remodelling 4 existing stores instead of opening new ones in 2007. Food departments grew in size and became more spacious. The placement of merchandise has also been modernised. The most apparent change in the Nyíregyháza METRO is also the expanded store space and assortment, with the biggest changes among fruits and vegetables, delicacies and wine. The wider assortment of wines and the state of the art packaging of fresh meat products guarantees safety and the possibility of monitoring. Qualified sommeliers help customers in each Hungarian METRO store. Their business strategy launched in 2005 remains unchanged, focusing on independent retailers and the HoReCa sector. The number of their contracted retail partners is over 3,000 at present, which is remarkable when we look at the decrease in the number of independent stores. They are also increasingly focusing on independent client relations. They continue to rely on direct communication with customers, using their card system. The assortment of private label products aimed at specific target groups is also expanding. Examples are H-line, Horeca Select, Aro or Corvinus. Domestic suppliers account for 90 per cent of the products sold by METRO. Last year brought the expected results, which proves that the new strategy has been received favourably by their customers. Sales in December were even better than expected.