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Corporate Principles of METRO GROUP 
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METRO GROUP is one of the most important international trade companies. Our strong performance is based on our high degree of customer orientation, our broadly based sales divisions and our efficient processes and structures. Our goal is to increase
METRO GROUP's value on the long term through sustainable, profitable growth.
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Our business is shaped by our responsibility to customers, employees, business partners, investors and society as a whole. Internal and external transparency and credibility are the hallmarks of our company culture. We always act in accordance with our business principles. We also take ecological and social needs into account in all of our decisions and processes, because long-term profitable growth requires sustainable, forward-looking economic management.
METRO GROUP is a driving force behind the modernisation of the trade industry.
cbi:///cms/248215Our brand message, 'Made to trade.', summarises what unites employees from our sales divisions and companies: drive, an understanding of the market and a passion for the industry. Every single one of them contributes to making our shared goals a reality.
METRO GROUP's corporate principles reflect the Company's conception of itself.
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Only an economically successful company has the freedom to act. We are ensuring long-term profitable growth for our Company by continuously trengthening our sales divisions' customer orientation, consistently promoting the internationalisation of the Group, and creating efficient structures that clearly build upon one another in all sections. A decisive factor in our business is our proximity to customers and local markets.
cbi:///cms/33180Our international orientation keeps us independent from periods of economic weakness in individual regions. We adjust our procedures, sales concepts and formats to the varying levels of development in each country where we operate, which allows us to achieve sustainable market penetration. In its expansion,
METRO GROUP is particularly concentrating on the dynamic growth regions of Asia and Eastern Europe. The Group's experience in tapping new markets is an important competitive advantage in this process.
cbi:///cms/33182METRO GROUP's economic success is founded on the performance of its sales divisions, which each hold a leading position in their respective segments. The focus of our business is on large-scale trade formats that can also be adapted internationally. We adapt these concepts to the requirements of local market environments in order to ideally meet the needs of our customers. Our goal is to position our sales divisions as distinctive brands in the trade sector, thus differentiating us from the competition.
cbi:///cms/33184We draw our strength from a clear allocation of responsibilities within the Group. Our guiding principle in this respect is: as decentralised as possible, as centralised as necessary. The sales divisions have full, independent responsibility for the operational business, allowing them to react flexibly to the needs of their customers and the specific requirements of local markets. Functions that are important for the management of the Group, on the other hand, are handled centrally. This structure increases efficiency in the Group and contributes to the consistent improvement of our competitive position.
cbi:///cms/33186Strong customer orientation and efficient processes are essential to our success. In order to meet the complex requirements that customers place on modern trade companies, we continuously develop ourselves further. New concepts and the implementation of innovative technologies ensure optimum workflows and the most comfortable shopping experience possible for our customers. We bring our experience in these areas into play on the national and international level in order to promote the modernisation of the industry as a whole.
METRO GROUP considers itself a driving force for innovation in trade.
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In order to manage the Group more efficiently,
METRO AG handles vital functions centrally; these include areas such as finance, controlling, compliance and audit. The holding company is also responsible for the Group's overall strategy, executive development, personnel policy and corporate communications; it additionally ensures regular contact with capital markets.
cbi:///cms/33192METRO GROUP's sales divisions are responsible for attaining the centrally defined goals and profitability benchmarks. In order to do so, they manage all operational aspects of business - from purchasing to sales. They are constantly refining their concepts and formats to meet the needs of customers and markets. This high level of direct responsibility extends to
METRO GROUP employees: they know local requirements better than anyone, and they have the necessary entrepreneurial spirit to meet them.
cbi:///cms/33194Diversity, Equal Opportunity and Tolerancecbi:///cms/33195
The diversity of our workforce reflects the structure of our society, and hence the structure of our customer base.
METRO GROUP is an equal opportunity employer: this means that we provide all of our employees with the same opportunities, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic background, sexual identity, possible disabilities, or religion. Openness and tolerance shape our interactions with one another and with the public.
cbi:///cms/33196Our management style is characterised by mutual respect and fairness. Managers are responsible for creating a working atmosphere that motivates employees to perform at their best; this also includes enabling the personal and professional development of each individual.
METRO GROUP places transparent requirements on its managers, who are rated and evaluated by way of continuous assessments.
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Trade is an industry that takes on important societal duties, including providing for people's basic needs and securing jobs. It is therefore all the more important for
METRO GROUP to make its interests known in both the political and nonparliamentary spheres. As ambassadors of our Company, employees who take up public office or public duties contribute to our positive image outside of the Company. We also regularly exchange ideas with political decision-makers at the national and international level, are dedicated to working with associations and organisations, and contribute our expertise during the run-up to legislative decisions.
cbi:///cms/33202As an international company, we are subject to numerous complex legal provisions. Our business principles help us to incorporate these provisions into our day-to-day work at the Company, in conjunction with guidelines for interacting with business partners and colleagues. The legal, ethical conduct of all employees and the adherence to these guidelines are an important precondition for sustainable growth at
METRO GROUP. cbi:///cms/33204METRO GROUP has consistently based its business on the principle of sustainability. Our goal is to ensure a foundation for the future and create added value for our customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. Central components of our sustainability strategy include efficient energy and resource management, high standards along the entire supply chain, fair dealings with employees and partners, and open dialogue with important interest groups.
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