The Metro Cash and Carry will open its first wholesale centre in Lahore on Tuesday. "Pakistan is the 29th country, where the international market leader in self-service wholesale is present. Metro's concept is tailored to the special needs of Pakistani commercial customers."
Metro Chief Executive Officer Thomas M Hubner and Asia Regional Operating Officer James Scott told a press conference here on Monday. "We see a great potential and an impressive growth perspective for our self-service wholesale in Pakistan", Hubner said.
"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 wholesale centre in Lahore features more than 10,000 square metres 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 worldwide, is also pursued in Pakistan. Up to 80 percent of the goods on display in Lahore originate from Pakistani producers and distributors.
The wholesale centre in Lahore employs 300 people from the local community with 200 more working at the company's country headquarters, also located in Lahore. The capital investment for the centre amounts to 15 million euros.
In December, Metro will open its second location in Islamabad. If all pre-conditions like the allocation of real estate are met, Metro could see a potential to open up to centres in mid-term in Pakistan.
The wholesale is defined through its customer base: only commercial customers are allowed to purchase at Metro Cash and Carry, all of them duly registered and provided with a customer card. This means that Metro Cash and Carry does not sell to private end consumers. It is not a super- or hyper-market 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 and hotels, restaurants and caterers and other companies and institutions," Hubner said. "Contrary to the traditional delivery wholesale, Metro Cash and Carry's customers select their merchandise 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."
Scott said, "The assortment on display is adjusted to the respective regional consumer habits and customer expectations because Metro Cash and Carry procures most of the merchandise from local manufacturers and distributors - and this counts for Pakistan as well."