METRO to Close METRO Advertising GmbH, Shifts Focus to Core Wholesale Strategy

METRO to Close METRO Advertising GmbH, Shifts Focus to Core Wholesale Strategy

(IN BRIEF) METRO has decided to shut down METRO Advertising GmbH as part of its strategic focus on its sCore wholesale strategy. This decision affects 67 employees in Germany and Poland, with business activities ceasing by the end of 2024. METRO will ensure socially responsible transitions for the affected employees and offer trainees opportunities to complete their training within other METRO companies. Services for current METRO companies will be outsourced to external providers in the future.

(PRESS RELEASE) DŪSSELDORF, 26-Jul-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — In line with its sCore wholesale strategy, METRO has decided to cease operations of METRO Advertising GmbH.

METRO ADVERTISING no longer aligns with METRO’s core business strategy A commitment to socially responsible transitions for 67 employees in Germany and Poland

METRO ADVERTISING, which has provided services to various METRO entities and around 20 external clients primarily in the retail sector, will be phased out. The largest client, Real, recently closed due to insolvency.

Current METRO entities, such as METRO Germany, will continue to digitize their customer communications independently. Future advertising material and print production needs will be outsourced to external providers.

The 67 employees of METRO ADVERTISING, based in Düsseldorf (49 employees) and Warsaw (18 employees), specialize in print production management, paper procurement, media planning, and distribution. Both offices will close by the end of 2024.

METRO is committed to finding socially responsible solutions for affected employees, including offering trainees opportunities to complete their training within other METRO companies.

Guillaume Deruyter, METRO Management Board member and CCMO responsible for METRO ADVERTISING, stated: “The METRO ADVERTISING team has developed significant expertise in advertising processes, production, and sourcing, reflected in the loyalty of our external customers. Our decision to discontinue these operations stems from their misalignment with our wholesale strategy. We explored selling the business to preserve jobs, but market conditions were not favorable. We extend our gratitude to the management and employees for their dedication and to METRO ADVERTISING’s customers for their trust. Services will continue as agreed until the end of the year.”

METRO is a leading international food wholesaler which specialises in serving the needs of hotels, restaurants, and caterers (HoReCa) as well as independent merchants (Traders). Around the world, METRO has approx. 15 million customers who benefit from the wholesale company’s unique multichannel mix: customers can purchase their goods in one of the large stores in their area as well as by delivery (Food Service Distribution, FSD) – all digitally supported and connected. In parallel, METRO MARKETS is being developed as an international online marketplace for the needs of professional customers which has been growing and expanding continuously since 2019. Acting sustainably is one of the company principles of METRO which has been listed in various sustainability indices and rankings, including MSCI, Sustainalytics and CDP. METRO operates in more than 30 countries and employs over 89,000 people worldwide. In financial year 2022/23, METRO generated sales of €30.6 billion. More information can be found at MPULSE.de, our online magazine.

Media Contact:

Gerd Koslowski
Senior Vice President Corporate Communications, METRO AG
+49 211 6886-1989
gerd.koslowski@metro.de

SOURCE: METRO AG