Many This money was used to auction off the pullover worn by the national coach Joachim Löw during the FIFA World Cup 2010. During the next few months this pullover will be showcased at various Galeria department stores. "Ein Herz für Kinder" is a relief organisation under the patronage of the German mass daily Bild, which supports children in need around the world. cbi:///cms/64574

Many employees of the corporate headquarters followed the call and recently collected Christmas gifts for this good cause. A few days ahead of Christmas Eve, Dr Eckhard Cordes personally presented these gifts together with several pallets of food and articles of daily use from the local Metro Cash & Carry wholesale store to the Head of the Tafel food bank in Düsseldorf, Heike Vongehr. In total, several large shopping carts with gifts, food and articles of daily use were collected, including household appliances, rucksacks, dishes, blankets and cookery books.

Longstanding partner of the Tafel food bank

METRO GROUP has been a partner of the Tafel food bank in Düsseldorf for many years already. In addition to regular food donations by the sales brands the retail Group provides financial support to the relief organisation and also supports it through the voluntary work of its employees in the framework of special campaigns. In this context METRO AG this year already for the sixth time hosted a charity event during which the employees supported the Tafel organisation in handing out meals to the homeless and people in need at the Franciscan monastery in Düsseldorf. In addition, one euro per volume of the new METRO GROUP cookery book "Das Gute essen" is donated to the national Deutsche Tafel organisation.

Further information

Website of the Tafel food bank in Düsseldorf www.duesseldorfer-tafel.de *
Website of the METRO GROUP cookery book "Das Gute essen" *

* only German version available cbi:///cms/64846

Yekaterinburg and the Sverdlovsk region are among those in Russia enjoying the most impressive economic growth. A highly developed sector of small and medium sized enterprises in the local community presents huge potential for our wholesale operations.

Already in early November the first Metro Cash & Carry store in Tomsk was opened. The Tomsk city and the region confidently show stable economic growth reserving one of the leading positions among the Siberian regions. cbi:///cms/64765

All graphics and charts in the Metro Retail Compendium were optimised with a view to readability. As customary, readers will in addition to a comprehensive glossary also find an address and services section.

Three topic specials present different facts of retailing in detail. These include the sustainable commitment of METRO GROUP as a fair partner of the local economy. In line with this year’s EXPO participation and its motto "Better city, better life", the second topic special is dedicated to the contribution of the retail sector for a liveable city. The section is rounded off by a topic special on the growth market China.

The Metro Retail Compendium addresses representatives from politics, industry and the media. But it is also used by students in schools and universities who are interested in this sector.

The print version of the Metro Retail Compendium can be ordered at the following website: Order

Further information

Metro Retail Compendium 2010/2011 cbi:///cms/64802

From the ultra-modern Fish Logistics Centre, Metro Cash & Carry is delivering the fish to its whole sale stores in Germany and Austria exclusively for its professional customers. On average, 250 tons of fresh fish and seafood are leaving the logistics centre near Frankfurt every week. One important benefit of bundling the logistics at one location is that time- and cost-intensive trans-shipment steps are spared. This significantly accelerates the processes for both: delivery to the Logistics Centre and also delivery to the wholesale stores.

For the customers this means extra freshness when purchasing fish. This is because nearly all fish species reach the stores within 48 hours after being caught. The latest technology in temperature-controlled wet logistics was implemented for the quality testing and picking of the highly perishable products from domestic, arctic and tropic waters.

Thanks to its innovative concept and equipment, the Fish Logistics Centre operated by MGL METRO GROUP Logistics saves energy and time. The building design and the workflows of the new logistics centre received the silver status for temperature-controlled real estate property of the German Quality Seal for Sustainable Building.

Further information

Topic Special Quality Assurance cbi:///cms/64813

With more than 9,500 square metre of selling space, the flagship store is the second-largest Media Markt outlet in the world. Split over five stories, it stocks some 45,000 up-to-date products. Media Markt China plans to operate more than ten stores in Shanghai by 2012. cbi:///cms/64879

Soaring purchasing power in China cbi:///cms/64938

Gaining competitive edge via customer focus and adjustments to his requirements cbi:///cms/64939

The sheer number of customers confirms how well the consumer climate is developing in China: "Chinese consumers' purchasing power is soaring, and we can profit from this growth with our market rollout," said Roland Weise, CEO of Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH. "The electrical goods retail sector alone is currently growing by some 8 percent a year and sales are expected to climb to between 180 and 200 billion euros in the next ten years." cbi:///cms/64936

Media Markt is opening its first flagship store in Shanghai on the famous shopping street Huai Hai Road. The brand's tried and tested recipe for success is being adjusted to Chinese consumers' requirements, with a wide range of demonstrable products at permanently low prices, innovative store design, and expert advice and service. 275 employees are on hand to ensure that consumers find the product that fits their needs perfectly. The product portfolio comprises an extensive range, which is geared towards Chinese consumers' preferences.

China-oriented store design with a relaxing zone

The design of the store features numerous highlights. For example, there are studios for 3-D technology, TVs, and hi-fis, plus a 300 square metre e-learning and gaming department. As is typical for China, the store has a spacious relaxing zone, where customers can test products such as massage chairs. Refreshments round out the customer experience. As in Europe, Media Markt offers a comprehensive range of services in China – from delivery and repairs to expert advice on products and computer installation. cbi:///cms/64941

With the rollout of the drive-in station, Real is creating an additional distribution channel to its roughly 320 hypermarkets and the Real online shop launched in May 2010. With this concept, Real offers a time-saving alternative to conventional shopping for those customers who exactly know what they want. The customers choose from an assortment of around 5,000 articles and place their order online at www.real-drive.de. Already two hours later the purchases are ready for collection. Shopping at the Real Drive is thus first and foremost one thing: time-saving. The entire collection and payment process only takes about five minutes.

The drive-in stations are not competing with the Real hypermarkets but supplement them mainly in those situations where a customer has little time for shopping. For each purchase a service fee of only one euro will be charged. For the rest, the prices are the same as those in the Real stores. Customers can rely on the fact that the products at the Real Drive do not cost one single cent more than those offered at any other Real hypermarket.

How does shopping at Real Drive In work?

1. Once all articles have been selected, they complete the order process and receive a collection voucher indicating the order number by email.

2. Customers then have the option to save their order as a basis for future order transactions. This will accelerate future orders and save time as well.

3. Once the purchase order has been received at the Drive store an employee will pick the order for the planned collection date.

4. For collection of his order the customer drives to the terminal of the Real Drive and enters the order number or scans the collection voucher.

5. He will then be assigned a roofed parking box where an employee will hand over the goods or load them directly into the car if so instructed.

6. The purchase can be paid in cash, by direct debiting or by credit card. Just like at a traditional Real hypermarket it will be possible to collect Payback and bonus points. cbi:///cms/64891

For its presentation, Metro Cash & Carry focused on the topic of food traceability. In this context, MCC China operated the Good Food Bistro in the pavilion of the City of Duesseldorf. At this restaurant, visitors had the opportunity to taste food made from products whose origins can be fully traced from farm to fork.

At the Media Markt Wonderland, visitors had the opportunity to embark on a virtual tour of the corporate world of Media Markt. The Media Markt stand was completely designed in the corporate colour red. Screens showed individual Media Markt employees from the most diverse countries who talked about Media Markt as an employer. For Media Markt, the EXPO represented an ideal preparation for its market entry. cbi:///cms/64903

The first Chinese Media Markt store is located very attractively in the well known Huai Hai road which is one of the four shopping areas in Shanghai. Hence, it is the ideal location for the new Media Markt store which offers 45,000 different products on a sales floor of about 9,500 square meters.

Further store openings also outside of Shanghai are planned for the next few years. By the middle of the decade, METRO GROUP sees in China a potential for more than 100 stores. Media Markt's expansion in China is supported by its Joint Venture partner Foxconn Technology Group.

China is a huge growing market with a currently unique window of opportunity. The consumer electronics market is still very fragmented. In addition there is a new urban middle class with increasing disposable income and an increased interest in electronic products – and 170 cities in China have more than 1 million inhabitants each. Media Markt's business model should hence appeal strongly to the Chinese customer as it offers widest assortment in the market, all product categories and only large-sized stores at premium locations. cbi:///cms/64917

Galeria Kaufhof has won the Berlin-based VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE e.V. "Sustainable Retailer 2010" award for the second time. In the stationery and toys categories, the Cologne department store company has made 'outstanding' achievements in environmental and social commitment. "Our customers trust Galeria Kaufhof to display corporate responsibility. The appraisal from the consumer organisation demonstrates that this confidence is justified. The two silver medals are confirmation of our activities and are also motivation for us to improve further", says Thomas Storck, Member of the Executive Board and director of the Sustainability Committee at Galeria Kaufhof.

Efforts of Sustainability Committee are already paying off

The efforts of Galeria Kaufhof Sustainability Committee during the previous year are already paying off. Individual results show that Galeria Kaufhof is setting a great example, especially in 'CSR activities in its own operations'. Galeria Kaufhof achieved the highest level of appraisal in this category with sub-categories of 'Business Management', 'CSR actions in the company and in sales outlets' as well as 'Transparency', and improved from 'committed' to 'highly committed', when compared to the previous year. This applies to both the stationery and toys categories. Galeria Kaufhof is the only company to win an award in the toys category.

In stationery, the commitment to the promotion of sustainable consumption was also praised. The company achieved 'Total score 2' with a 'highly committed' in the categories of 'Sustainable range design', 'Staff training', 'Consumer information and Service' as well as 'Product presentation and Marketing'. The Kaufhof promotion 'Green solutions for your desk' back in June was one of the measures which made a positive contribution in this area. cbi:///cms/64929

The dialogue and transparency are to be intensified in future, especially with regard to potentially controversial issues. During the meeting, the CEO of METRO GROUP, Dr. Eckhard Cordes, explained the company's revised sustainability strategy. Around one year ago METRO GROUP established a Sustainability Board whose task it is to develop group-wide binding standards for sustainable management, and implement them.

One example is the field of sustainable fishery. The common goal of preserving the biodiversity of the seas would offer METRO GROUP and Greenpeace the opportunity to benefit from the strengths of the respective other party. Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, welcomed the initiative of METRO GROUP to enter into a constructive dialogue. cbi:///cms/64970

Germany had "very clearly" benefited from the EU's eastward expansion. "For the German economy and for prosperity in Germany the extension was an enormous advantage", said Merkel. According to Merkel there was "still much room for manoeuvring" with regard to the development of economic relations

Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations – Bridge to the markets of the future

Founded in 1952, the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations represents more than 150 companies and trade associations in the markets Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, in the Central Asian Republics, in the Caucasian Republics and in South East Europe. It sees itself as a bridge to the markets of the future, i.e. as a mediator between business and politics in Germany and Eastern Europe. The primary objective of the Committee is to intensify and improve the economic relationship between Germany and the Eastern European countries.

Besides Asia, Eastern Europe is the main growth region for METRO GROUP

"For METRO GROUP as an international retail company, the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations was and is an outstanding champion of our interests", said Dr. Cordes. It offered a valuable platform for dialogue and exchange on economic policies. "The Committee has become a partner for the successful international expansion of METRO GROUP in Eastern Europe and Central Asia". For METRO GROUP, Eastern Europe is the main growth region besides Asia. In this region, the Company is represented with its sales brands Metro Cash & Carry, Real as well as Media Markt and Saturn in 13 countries with more than 400 retail outlets. "The Eastern European market has long since become a highly attractive destination not only for industry but also for the retail sector”.

Further information

Website of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations of German Business www.ost-ausschuss.de. cbi:///cms/64982

The Media-Saturn Group ventured into Russia for the first time in 2006 when it opened its first Media Markt store. Twenty-three stores have since followed. With the launch of the first Saturn store in Moscow, the company is now also implementing its successful two-retail-brand strategy in Russia. "Our experience in the Russian market has shown that the demand for consumer electronics here remains unchecked", said Roland Weise, CEO of Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH. "The Russian market continues to offer us great potential. Having successfully established Media Markt over the past few years, the time is now ripe for Saturn.

With 400,000 square meters of space, the Vegas Mall is the country's largest shopping and leisure center. The Saturn store, with approximately 4,700 square meters of sales space, offers a large selection of brand-name products from a wide variety of sectors including entertainment electronics, household appliances, computers, digital cameras and telecommunications, as well as a large selection of CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray disks, at consistently low prices. All the products are ready for demonstration and, similar to a trade fair, can be tested and compared directly by the customer.

The location in Moscow will not remain Saturn's only location for long. Another store is slated to open in the city of Voronezh before the end of the year, and the planning for numerous other projects is currently under way. cbi:///cms/64994

"Today is an important day for our company as we are opening the first wholesale store here in Almaty. With this move, we are laying the foundations for a long and fruitful cooperation with our local customers and business partners", said Frans Muller. "Metro Cash & Carry would like to support the rapid economic development of Kazakhstan by contributing its longstanding expertise in the creation of a modern retail infrastructure".

Almaty has a population of just under 1.4 million and features numerous hotels and restaurants as well as small retailers. Therefore, Almaty offers a major development potential for the self-service wholesale operations of Metro Cash & Carry. Metro Cash & Carry Kazakhstan cooperates with more than 400 suppliers and thereby supports the development of a modern retail infrastructure across the complete supply chain. By creating direct supply relationships, waste during transport can be reduced and farmers can be supported in producing better quality products, for example.

What is so special about Metro Cash & Carry in Kazakhstan? cbi:///cms/65006

Festival promotes industry films

The ITVA Award recognises role-model audio-visual communication solutions and makes them available to a large, interested audience. The participants and award winners of the festival include a variety of customers, companies, producers and authors. The association has been promoting film communication in industry and institutions since 1983.

METRO GROUP is a successful international retail family

The film "A common DNA" presented in May this year shows METRO GROUP as a successful international retail family of different sales brands who have one important thing in common: a passion for business, performance and an understanding of today's and tomorrow's markets. The film focuses on the Group's employees and customers. It portraits METRO GROUP and its sales divisions as born traders with a passion to perform who act with the firm intention of developing the company further. cbi:///cms/65018

Since May, METRO GROUP and the City of Duesseldorf have been presenting themselves at the EXPO 2010. The motto of the pavilion is "Duesseldorf - Business meets Lifestyle: Liveable City and Sustainable Development in Duesseldorf".

"Here at EXPO, we - i.e. the City of Duesseldorf and METRO GROUP - are presenting our successful model to the international public. We want to show how economic success, sustainable urban development and quality of life can be favourably combined" explained Dr. Michael J. Inacker, Head of Communication, Public Affairs & CSR.

The issue of sustainability also plays an important role at the Good Food Bistro of the Duesseldorf pavilion. In this restaurant, Metro Cash & Carry China demonstrates how you can trace the origin of products from farm to fork.

Besides Metro Cash & Carry China also Media Markt is presenting itself at the Duesseldorf pavilion. In the Media Markt Wonderland, employees give visitors the opportunity for a virtual tour of the corporate world. Only few weeks before the market entry of Media Markt in November the extraordinary projections allow exciting insights into the world of high tech. cbi:///cms/65030

The main attraction for the broad public was the German table tennis player Timo Boll. The threefold European Champion who is a star in China managed to get an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. Under the eyes of his huge Chinese fan community Boll established the new longest ping pong table rally record together with the 100 best eight- to twelve-year-old players of the Shanghai Cao Yanhua Table Tennis Training School.

Movie: Duesseldorf Day at EXPO 2010

Movie: Economic Power China cbi:///cms/65096

Under the motto "Sustainability - Social Reality or Green Fiction", the sixth Campus Symposium took place in Iserlohn in early September.

In her lecture, Dr. Kerstin van Kerkom underlined the existing improvement potential in the logistics chain: "Especially transport processes must be increasingly considered against the background of their CO2 emissions". To achieve a further reduction of the environmental impact, it is indispensible to know the precise rates of environmental gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. In cooperation with a consultant, METRO GROUP Logistics was one of the first retailing companies to develop a CO2 tool and is now in a position to calculate CO2 emissions for the transport processes from the suppliers to the METRO GROUP stores and warehouses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

To ensure that the calculated data will score when benchmarked with other companies, METRO GROUP Logistics had the measurement processes certified by an acknowledged independent environmental expert. cbi:///cms/65042

"The development of our exclusive brand strategy is based on a comprehensive analysis of our customers' wishes and the economic potential of the new brands." says Roland Weise, CEO of Media Markt and Saturn Holding GmbH.

Further brands will follow 2011

In the first half of 2011 the brands will be followed by the brand "PEAQ" for consumer electronics and in the second half by the brand "ISY" for electronic accessories.

High quality due to cooperation with renowned manufacturers

The new Media Markt and Saturn exclusive brands will cater to all price segments each selling at more favorable, competitive prices. To guarantee a high quality standard, for its technical production Media Markt and Saturn will first concentrate on cooperation with renowned manufacturers of existing premium brands in the white goods and consumer electronics sector. cbi:///cms/65054

The highlight on the opening day was the visit of the French actor Gérard Depardieu, who was presenting his red wine "2006 Anjou AOC Vieilles Vignes" from his own winery.

Metro Cash & Carry Germany sells the wines from the actor's Château de Tigné vineyard exclusively in the German wholesale sector. The range includes two premium red wines, 2006 Anjou AOC Vieilles Vignes and 2003 Confidence Cabernet, as well as the white dessert wine 2007 Côteaux du Layon AOC. Apart from Metro Cash & Carry Germany's wholesale stores, Depardieu's wines are only available at Sansibar on Sylt.

Another highlight was the attractive new offerings from Metro Cash & Carry Germany's range of own-brand products. Since the start of the year, Horeca Select, the high-quality brand for commercial catering, has boasted a number of outstanding new electrical kitchen appliances, while the special offerings from the firm's own Rioba brand were developed especially for bars and cafés. Metro Cash & Carry Germany was also presenting its Fine Food Finestro brand for the first time. The brand adds 86 distinctive gourmet products to the Company's range, including Australian kingfish, meat from Canadian bison and special snack bar burgers made from particularly high-quality meat.

Movie: MCC presentation at the hogatec 2010 in Düsseldorf cbi:///cms/65104

"Engagement fairbindet - Gemeinsam für Entwicklung" [commitment fairly connects - together for development] was the motto of the commitment campaign hosted in the park of the former chancellor's office in Bonn. The idea is to improve networking between old and new stakeholders in development policies and present examples for successful projects and initiatives. Metro Cash & Carry Germany was one of the sponsors of the event. Moreover, Dr. Michael J. Inacker in his function as Vice Chairman of the METRO GROUP Sustainability Board participated in a high-level discussion panel on "Sustainable Commitment". The talks focused on the question how retail companies can maintain high standards from production to the store shelf. This includes stringent quality requirements in the same way as observing animal protection, environmental aspects and human rights. Literally, Dr. Inacker said in Bonn: "If we want to get more sustainable today - and this is what we at METRO GROUP want - then we have to seek a new balance between customers, suppliers and the retail trade regarding this issue. That is the reason why, at our company, we have established a Sustainability Board chaired by the CEO Eckhard Cordes. With this instrument and an extended approach for all sustainability activities, we are steering social and ecological standards across the Group and the dialogue at the interface with politics, society and industry. Against this backdrop, corporate social responsibility at METRO GROUP is not a marketing instrument, but it belongs to the core business of modern corporate management".

More information:
Sustainability commitment of METRO GROUP along the supply chainRead more

Movie: Cooperation of Metro Cash & Carry with farmers in Vietnam cbi:///cms/65116

The bistro offers specialties from the Rhine region and in addition demonstrates the special competence of Metro Cash & Carry China regarding traceability technology. No matter which specialty the visitor has ingested, he will get a special apple on parting.

Transparent food value chain

To obtain information on this apple the bistro visitors only have to enter the 17-digit code shown on its packaging into one of the two terminals at the Good Food Bistro or on the Internet en.starfarm.com.cn. This traceability is not only possible for apples but for most of the products used at the Good Food Bistro. They originate from member farms of the so-called Star Farm Initiative of Metro Cash & Carry China.

METRO GROUP established this consulting company in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Trade and the local authorities. One of the goals is to support Chinese farmers regarding quality and food safety issues. In trainings, they learn how to meet international quality standards, for example. One key aspect is the traceability of goods - from the field to the kitchen of the bistro at the Duesseldorf Pavilion on EXPO.

Movie "Transparent food value chain"
English: Windows Media DSL
German: Windows Media DSL cbi:///cms/65130

The new platform comprises not only the latest hit movies from all the major movie studios but also movie classics and TV series.

Offer for every taste

No matter whether you are looking for the latest Hollywood blockbuster, movie highlights of the 80s or your favourite TV series: with the rollout of its own video-on-demand portal at the web address video-download.mediamarkt.de * Media Markt now offers an attractive alternative to the existing video-on-demand platforms. Several thousand movies and TV series of the different genres are already available in the video download shop and the number increases daily.

* only available in German
 cbi:///cms/65142

The holiday camp offered a varied programme for the children which included a visit to a zoo in Kadzidłowo or participation in events on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Tannenberg.

The active commitment of METRO GROUP for the flood victims was recognised by national and local authorities. The Undersecretary of the Ministry for National Education, Zbigniew Włodkowski, as well as representatives from the regional and local administrations visited the holiday camp.

Engagement of METRO GROUP

Already shortly after the first floods occurred in May, METRO GROUP organised numerous fundraising campaigns. In total, hundreds of kilos of food as well as large quantities of hygienic articles, cleaners, blankets and clothing were collected. All METRO GROUP sales brands operating in Poland cooperated with relief organisations like food banks or Caritas.
 cbi:///cms/65180

METRO GROUP's sales brands Metro Cash & Carry, Real, Media Markt as well as METRO AG provided relief for the Moscow districts Shatura, Orekhovo, Yegorievsk, Lukhovitsy where the fires had been most severe, as well as for cities that fell victim to malice of the blazes: Lipetsk, Togliatti, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, and Voronezh. "METRO GROUP's locations and Logistic Center escaped damage by fire. But we had no doubt that we must give aid in the hour of need", says Mr. Erwin Trinkl, METRO AG Senior Vice-President Public and Government Relations in Russia. "The company has 90 stores in Russia, millions of Russians are our customers, and our stores are a part of their daily life. We clearly feel our responsibility for them and for Russia's society at large. It was very important for us to provide support that met the actual needs of people who had found themselves in a difficult situation". cbi:///cms/65191

Metro Cash & Carry Pakistan, which has been active in the country for three years now and currently operates five self-service wholesale stores in Pakistan, was already able to supply urgently needed food for a value of 60,000 euros to 5,000 affected families in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during recent weeks. This means that the Düsseldorf-based retailing company has, by now, already made donations worth a quarter million euros. The employees of Metro Cash & Carry Pakistan had quickly recognized the scale of the disaster and initiated aid immediately. "In coordination with the local authorities, we are compiling shipments of goods which the people need most urgently", stated Dr. Eckhard Cordes, CEO of METRO GROUP.

Metro employees get involved in emergencies and provide quick assistance

"We are currently mobilising our complete procurement and logistics resources to ensure that the goods needed will reach the affected regions as fast as possible", said Frans W. H. Muller, CEO of Metro Cash & Carry in charge of the region Asia. "Thanks to our retailing infrastructure, good organisation and the dedicated support of our employees in the five Metro wholesale stores in Pakistan, it is possible to rapidly mobilise resources. Our colleagues in Pakistan are working around the clock to provide relief goods and urgent supplies in close cooperation with the local authorities and relief organizations". METRO GROUP has already worked side by side with the Government of Pakistan in emergency situations on several occasions to provide quick aid. The earthquakes that shook the country in 2005 and 2008 are but two examples.
 cbi:///cms/65203

With more than eight million inhabitants in the conurbation surrounding the metropolis Tokyo, the market for hotels, restaurants, caterers and food traders is gigantic - about five times the size of the comparable food service market in Germany. Metro Cash & Carry wants to leverage this potential and set up another three new wholesale stores in and around Tokyo. The company is already operating four stores in Japan. The business partners of Metro Japan are particularly important for this growth. "The partnership with our suppliers is decisive to achieve our ambitious expansion targets", said Frans Muller, CEO of Metro Cash & Carry International for Asia/CIS/New Markets, at the supplier conference hosted recently. "Our suppliers can grow together with us because we are in the process of tapping the gigantic opportunities of the Japanese market".

Expansion plans met with positive response in Japan

The roughly 500 suppliers praised the expansion plans of the wholesale operator, its assortment policy and its international strategy. This offers Japanese producers the opportunity to also test the export of their own products through the international network of Metro Cash & Carry.
 cbi:///cms/65215

At the kick-off event in Shengyang, the employees of Metro Cash & Carry China presented the food traceability system "Star Farm" with descriptive examples and in a playful manner to an audience of about 100 children. In addition, Chen Xiaoling, an expert from the Chinese "Youngsters' Health Guidance Center" of the Red Cross, gave a lecture on food safety and healthy nutrition specifically addressing the children.

Transparency for professional customers

Metro Cash & Carry introduced the "Star Farm" food traceability system in the province of Anhui in 2007 and trained the local farmers in the production of safe foods as a part of the "Farm to Fork" quality process. The innovative traceability system guarantees food safety throughout the supply chain from the producer to the consumer and offers maximum transparency for professional customers. Already now it comprises 1,000 traceable "Star Farm" agricultural products.
 cbi:///cms/65227

One of the highlights was the visit of the current President of the German Bundesrat and mayor of Bremen to the Metro tent. Jens Böhrnsen praised the corporate citizenship of METRO GROUP and thanked our vocational trainees for their social commitment. METRO GROUP rounded off its contribution to the event with a donation in the amount of € 50,000. cbi:///cms/65239

At the Forum, Frans Muller joined different panel discussions and meetings together with political and economic leaders for instance on Sustainability and Agriculture in Asia. Mr. Muller took the opportunity to explain Metro's efforts and initiatives to support the region's food safety, agricultural production and supply chain development. As an instant result of these discussions, it was agreed to form a task force between private companies and the Vietnamese government for sustainable agricultural growth. Led by Metro's approach, the initiative will take innovative steps to improve food security and agricultural sustainability across Vietnam. cbi:///cms/65251

On the occasion of the German Nations Day at EXPO 2010, Federal President Horst Köhler also visited the joint stand of the City of Duesseldorf and METRO GROUP on 20 May. Together with CEO Dr. Eckhard Cordes, the Management Board members Thomas Unger and Frans W.H. Muller as well as Media-Saturn CEO Roland Weise, the Federal President visited the exhibition spaces of Metro Cash & Carry and Media Markt. The highlight of the visit was the symbolic opening of the first Chinese Media Markt store. The Metro sales brand will start operating in Shanghai in October and plans to open more than 100 stores within the next five years.

Film about the visit of de Federal President at EXPO and the press conference on the strategy for Asia: Start film
 cbi:///cms/65262

"Asia - and China in particular - offer an enormous growth potential, which we will tap even more aggressively going forward", says Dr. Eckhard Cordes, CEO of METRO GROUP. This year, METRO GROUP will press ahead with its expansion in Asia with two approaches: Metro Cash & Carry will significantly extend its store network, and Media Markt will enter the Chinese market this October - with major expansion plans. The opening of the 50th Metro Cash & Carry store in China is scheduled for this year. Metro Cash & Carry further plans to introduce a new city store format. A pilot store scheduled to open in Shanghai later this year. The professional food store will be specially designed for customers located in the city centre, such as hotels, restaurants and caterers. The first Media Markt stores are to open in Shanghai starting from October 2010. More stores in other regions are planned to follow after 2012. In the long term, Media-Saturn targets several hundred Media Markt stores in China. cbi:///cms/65274

Covering a total selling space of 8,300 square metres, the new wholesale store with 250 employees has 19,000 food and non-food articles on display and offers highly professional services. The assortments are specifically tailored to the requirements of the individual professional customer groups: businesses from the area of hotels, restaurants and catering, retailers and companies from other sectors will find there all articles and services which they need for their business. Compared with other outlets, the new MCC store in Bucharest's eastern part boasts larger departments for fish, fruits and vegetables as well as the shelf-stable assortment. In addition, the sections for stationery, entertainment electronics and household goods were redesigned. "The opening of this new wholesale store takes account of the situation that Bucharest is a market which develops rapidly and has an enormous growth potential", comments Dusan Wilms, Managing Director of Metro Cash & Carry Romania. cbi:///cms/65286

"China is a crucial strategic market for Metro Cash & Carry. The opening of Suzhou Wuzhong Store showcases once more our long-term commitment to the Chinese market", said Tino Zeiske, President of Metro Cash & Carry China. "We will continue to invest and grow in China in the coming years. With our unique business-to-business concept, we provide our customers with everything they need to run their business under one roof." The new Metro Cash & Carry wholesale store in Wuzhong District of Suzhou, presents an assortment of 12,000 food and 8,000 non-food items on 6,500 square meters selling space. "Suzhou's booming economy and unmatchable infrastructure provide a huge potential for our fourth wholesale store in the city. With our presence we will contribute to boost the local economy", added Store Manager Kang Shunchang. cbi:///cms/65314

Although political decision makers regularly go to supermarkets they are frequently not familiar with the complex supply chain activities from the producer to the shelf. A recent visit by the liberal EU politician Alexandra Thein, MEP, and the Member of the Berlin House of Representatives, Sylvia Maria von Stieglitz, to the MGL warehouse in Altlandsberg marked the start of an new information campaign organised by German retailers.

Retail employees secure basic supply

The visit to the more than 70,000 square-meter warehouse in Altlandsberg with its departments dry foods, fresh produce, fruit and vegetables and frozen foods showed which warehousing and shipping processes are required to always provide consumers with a safe and comprehensive assortment. All over Germany, thousands of METRO Group employees every day perform an important job that secures the basic supply of the population.
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Upon learning the news that Southwest China is hit by the worst drought in 100 years and many children can only have as much as one bottle of water per day, Metro Cash & Carry China made a quick decision on March 29 to donate bottled water to Yunnan. In just 5 days, the donation of 100,000 Aka 550 ml water was produced and traveled over thousands of miles to Kunming last weekend.

Part of the corporate social responsibility strategy

"As company with a strong sense of corporate social responsibility, we are committed to giving a helping hand to people in need and supporting them to win the battle against natural disasters." says Tino Zeiske, President of Metro Cash & Carry China.
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The campaign already started in early February and will continue until the end of March 2010. In all spirits departments of the 54 Real hypermarkets in Poland advice for the responsible consumption of alcohol will be available. The campaign in addition also involves flyers, posters, advertisements and labels on the necks of the spirits bottles. Moreover, hostesses at the hypermarkets draw the customers' attention to the campaign and distribute free water bottles to those who purchase bottles of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff or Baileys. This is to remind the consumers that they should alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic beverages to ensure a healthy fluid balance.

"Real focuses on corporate social responsibility through active engagement in social campaigns. The responsible sale is especially important for the chain", says Kef van Helbergen, Managing Director of Real Poland. cbi:///cms/65350

With the pilot project in Wiener Neustadt, Metro Cash & Carry Austria is for the first time testing the deployment of LED technology for the lighting of a whole store. Almost 90 percent of the existing lights including the car park lights were replaced. The lamps used are LED lights which could be installed with a relatively small amount of work.

Already four weeks after the changeover the project managers in charge noticed that the power consumed for lighting had dropped by half. Due to the low heat produced by LED lamps also the power consumed for food and sales floor cooling had dropped and thereby reduced the store's overall electricity consumption by one quarter.
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The new wholesale store serves as a prologue to this year's expansion campaign of METRO Group in China. "The opening of Beijing Jingshunlu Store once again confirms Metro Cash & Carry's confidence in Beijing and China at large", said Tino Zeiske, President of Metro Cash & Carry China. "We are highly convinced that our unique B2B concept will continue to help us tap the capital city's huge potential."

Situated in Chaoyang District, northern Beijing, the new Jingshunlu store offers an assortment of 18,000 food and non-food articles on 7,100 m² selling space. MCC China hopes to present itself even closer to the professional customers in the booming areas of the city. cbi:///cms/65374