Market Entry in Pakistan

METRO Cash & Carry opens first wholesale center in Lahore

Lahore, 30th October 2007 – On Wednesday, METRO Cash & Carry inaugurates its first wholesale center in Lahore. Pakistan is the 29th country, where the international market leader in self-service wholesale is present. METRO Cash & Carry’s concept is tailored to the special needs of commercial customers from Pakistan. 

“We see a great potential and an impressive growth perspective for our self-service wholesale in Pakistan”, said Thomas M. Hübner, CEO of METRO Cash & Carry. “We are firmly convinced that our concept, which is focussing on commercial customers, will be successful in Pakistan and useful for the country, even more as it supports the development of the local economy.”

The new METRO Cash & Carry wholesale center in Lahore features more than 10,000 square meters of selling space and offers a comprehensive product range of more than 20,000 food and non-food articles. The focus on local suppliers, which is typical for METRO Cash & Carry worldwide, is also pursued in Pakistan. Around 80 percent of the goods on display in Lahore originate from Pakistani producers and distributors.

The METRO Cash & Carry wholesale center in Lahore employs 300 people from the local community. Moreover, 200 people are working at the company’s country headquarters which is also located in Lahore. The capital investment for the first METRO Cash & Carry wholesale center in Pakistan amounts to about 15 million Euro. In December, METRO Cash & Carry will open its second location in Islamabad. If all pre-conditions like the allocation of real estate are met, METRO Cash & Carry sees a potential to open up to ten wholesale centers in mid-term in Pakistan.

Cash & Carry wholesale is defined through its customer base: only commercial customers are allowed to purchase at METRO Cash & Carry, all of them duly registered and provided with a customer card. This means that METRO Cash & Carry does not sell to private end consumers. It is not a super- or hypermarket chain for private consumption, but a modern form of wholesale exclusively tailored to the needs of businesses and companies. “Professionals serving professionals” is the company’s motto. The core customers are small and medium-sized retailers as well as hotels, restaurants and caterers and other companies and institutions.

Contrary to the traditional delivery wholesale, METRO Cash & Carry’s customers select their merchandize at the wholesale center in the quantities they need, pay in cash and transport their purchase back to their businesses by themselves. Products of any type are offered on a permanent basis and in large quantities. “The assortment on display is adjusted to the respective regional consumer habits and customer expectations because METRO Cash & Carry procures most of the merchandize from local manufacturers and distributors – and this counts for Pakistan as well”, said James Scott, Regional Operating Officer METRO Cash & Carry Asia.