Olaf Koch to Meet Anand Sharma on India Visit

January 29, 2014, New Delhi: Mr. Olaf Koch, the global CEO of METRO Cash & Carry and the Chairman of the Management Board of METRO Group, will visit India on January 29 and 30, 2013. METRO Cash & Carry is a leading international Cash & Carry wholesaler, which operates over 750 self-service wholesale stores in 29 countries and is headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany.

While in New Delhi this week, Mr. Olaf Koch is scheduled to visit the Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Anand Sharma. The visit, described as a courtesy meeting, will be an opportunity for Mr. Koch to reiterate METRO’s commitment to India in the Cash & Carry wholesale sector. METRO Cash & Carry’s Indian subsidiary was the country’s first player in modern trade, having entered the market in 2003.

“We see India as one of our future growth markets for METRO Cash & Carry“, said Mr. Olaf Koch, speaking at the occasion. “So we will continue to focus on growing METRO Cash & Carry India into a sustainable and responsible business, deeply engaged with its customers, suppliers, employees and the community at large“, he added.

METRO Cash & Carry India currently operates 16 wholesale distribution centres in 12 cities across 8 States. The Company runs 3 centres in Bangalore, 2 each in Hyderabad and Mumbai, and 1 each in New Delhi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Zirakpur, Amritsar, Vijayawada and Indore. With considerable international expertise and a nuanced understanding of the Indian market honed over the past ten years, METRO Cash & Carry India is well-positioned to cater to the specific needs of its core business customers, including small retailers and kiranas, hotels, restaurants and caterers, corporate, SMEs and all types of offices, companies and institutions.

METRO’s Super Trader programme is aimed at helping its kirana customers become more competitive and profitable with sharper assortments, more efficient inventory management, greater hygiene in the handling and storage of goods, and improved ambience and services for their customers. METRO also provides its HoReCa customers with a range of customized services and interactive platforms for knowledge sharing through a unique initiative called Chef-o-logy, as well as hygiene and quality training initiatives for small and mid-sized restaurants and dhabas.

METRO Cash & Carry India is committed to bringing benefits to local communities and building local economies. Through its Collection Centres, METRO works along the agricultural supply chain to source fresh produce directly from farmers, reduce wastage levels and help farmers realize better financial value for their products. The company partners closely with local producers and manufacturers to procure goods locally. METRO’s quality standards are an industry benchmark, and the Company is India’s only HACCP-certified modern wholesaler. In every State it enters, METRO creates a number of direct and indirect employment opportunities for local talent, and also provides them with comprehensive training to develop their skills. METRO Cash & Carry India currently employs about 3200 full-time employees.

For media queries, contact: press@metro.co.in