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METRO Group to open its first Metro Cash & Carry outlet in Japan

04.12.2002

METRO Group to open its first Metro Cash & Carry outlet in Japan

Today the METRO Group is opening its first Metro Cash & Carry wholesale store in the Japanese town of Chiba (near Tokyo) in consistent pursuit of its strategy of internationalization. The group is now represented in 26 countries worldwide, with its Metro Cash & Carry division alone operating in 24 countries. Metro Cash & Carry's entry into the Japanese market has become possible through a joint venture with Marubeni Corporation in Tokyo. Marubeni is one of the most important Japanese universal trading companies operating in the wide varied areas of raw materials, services, food, consumer durables, equipment and consumer goods.
“We are seeing a vast market potential for Cash & Carry in Japan“, declared Toru Tsuji, President and CEO of  Marubeni Corporation. “It will be especially the small and medium-sized retailers, caterers and restaurant operators who shall be highly contributed by the new store“.  Marubeni’s active part in the business of Metro Cash & Carry in Japan will be, for one, to supply merchandise, as well as sharing their excellent knowledge of the Japanese market.

 "To the METRO Group the Japanese market with more than 126 million people and a high level of consumption offers an attractive market potential“, declared METRO AG's Chairman and CEO Dr. Hans-Joachim Körber, on the occasion of the store's inauguration ceremony in Japan. "Our Cash & Carry concept which is to target commercial and professional customers and offer them a high-quality assortment is very appropriate for the demanding Japanese market. Retail in Japan is open to niche concepts. We are moving into the niche of self-service wholesale in Japan, and we are seeing good perspectives for developing this market segment. Our customers will benefit from the Metro Cash & Carry division's longstanding experience in international markets and from the expertise of our joint venture partner, Marubeni. “

The investment for the first Japanese Metro Cash & Carry store is about 25 million €. The company employs 200 people in Japan. The first Metro Cash & Carry store in Japan covers a floor area of about 7,000 m² and has a selling space of about 5,000 m². It was constructed in less than six months. The assortment comprises 14,000 items of which 90 per cent is food and 10 per cent non food merchandise. Fresh produce make up 60 per cent of the overall range of items, and constitute the attractive centrepiece in the assortment which is sure to meet the Japanese consumers' high expectations regarding freshness and quality.

Professional customers from the sectors of food retail and catering as well as institutional bulk buyers such as canteen operators are Metro Cash & Carry's target group. Traditional Japanese retail stores who typically buy their merchandise from a large number of wholesalers can try out new procurement avenues by picking up all their merchandise personally from a 'single-stop' location at an attractive price. The Metro Cash & Carry store will be open on 361 days per year from 6.00 h until 19.00 h.
In Japan, as in other countries, Metro Cash & Carry will apply its typical world-wide policy of buying from local sources. The company will procure about 90 per cent of its food range from Japanese suppliers, and very soon ease its way into the Japanese retail infrastructure as a true partner to its customers and suppliers.

The METRO Group expects its Cash & Carry concept will over time be a success in the Japanese market. For next year it is planning to open a further Metro Cash & Carry store in the metropolitan Tokyo area. In the following year the network of stores will be rolled out even further.

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