# METRO Group

> German wholesale company

**Wikidata**: [Q169167](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169167)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_AG)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/metro-group

## Summary
METRO Group is a German public company and wholesale enterprise headquartered in Düsseldorf that specializes in the sale of goods to retailers and professional customers rather than end consumers. Founded in 1964, the organization operates internationally through subsidiaries like Metro Cash & Carry and Makro, and has historically been a major component of German stock market indices including the DAX. The group is closely associated with businessman Otto Beisheim and has undergone significant structural changes, including the spin-off of consumer electronics retail into Ceconomy.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Classification:** METRO Group is a public company, business, and enterprise that offers securities to the general public.
*   **Industry Focus:** The company operates in the wholesale sector, specifically utilizing the "cash and carry" model, distinct from retail which targets end-users.
*   **Founding Date:** The organization was established in 1964.
*   **Headquarters Location:** The corporate headquarters are located in Düsseldorf, the capital of the German federated state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
*   **Country of Origin:** The entity is based in Germany, a country in Central Europe with a complex historical inception timeline ranging from the German Empire (1871) to the modern Federal Republic (1949).
*   **Key Leadership:** Otto Beisheim (1924–2013), a German-Swiss businessman, is the primary affiliated person and key figure associated with the group.
*   **Stock Market Presence:** METRO Group has been part of major German indices, including the DAX (40 major companies), MDAX, and SDAX (70 Small Caps).
*   **Financial Scale (Revenue):** Reported revenue figures include 29,754,000,000.0, 24,765,000,000.0, 30,551,000,000.0, and 25,632,000,000.0.
*   **Financial Scale (Assets):** Total assets have been recorded at 12,855,000,000.0, 12,819,000,000.0, and 11,648,000,000.0.
*   **Financial Scale (Profit):** Net profit figures include losses of -331,000,000.0 and -45,000,000.0, as well as a profit of 439,000,000.0.
*   **Workforce Size:** Employee counts vary across reporting periods, recorded at 146,301.0, 94,944.0, 95,141.0, and 97,639.0.
*   **Subsidiaries:** The group contains or operates Makro, a Dutch brand of wholesale supermarket chains founded in 1968.
*   **Corporate Spin-offs:** The group is preceded by or related to Ceconomy, a company founded in 1996 that operates in the consumer electronics industry.
*   **Associated Brands:** The group has owned or operated Galeria Kaufhof (founded 1879), MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group (founded 1979), and Metro Cash & Carry (founded 1964).
*   **Digital Presence:** The official website is https://www.metroag.de/.
*   **Wikipedia Data:** The entity has a Wikipedia title of "Metro AG" and a sitelink count of 37.

## FAQs
**What is the primary business model of METRO Group?**
METRO Group operates as a wholesale company, selling goods and merchandise to retailers, other wholesalers, and professional customers rather than to individual end consumers. This distinguishes it from the retail sector, which focuses on direct sales to the final user.

**Who founded METRO Group and where is it based?**
The company is closely affiliated with Otto Beisheim, a prominent businessman who lived from 1924 to 2013. The organization is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, a city that serves as the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia.

**How has METRO Group's corporate structure evolved regarding its subsidiaries?**
The group has historically owned or operated several major entities, including the consumer electronics retailer MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group and the department store chain Galeria Kaufhof. It also manages the international self-service wholesaler Metro Cash & Carry and the Dutch wholesale brand Makro.

**What is the relationship between METRO Group and the German stock market?**
METRO Group is a public company that has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and included in major indices such as the DAX, MDAX, and SDAX. These indices track the performance of major, mid-cap, and small-cap German companies trading on the exchange.

**What financial performance metrics are recorded for the entity?**
The company's financial records show significant revenue streams ranging from approximately 24.7 billion to 30.5 billion, alongside total assets exceeding 11 billion. Net profit figures indicate periods of both profitability, such as 439 million, and losses, including -331 million.

## Why It Matters
METRO Group represents a cornerstone of the European wholesale and distribution infrastructure, bridging the gap between manufacturers and professional buyers. Its significance lies in its ability to facilitate the supply chain for the hospitality, catering, and retail sectors through its "cash and carry" model, which allows for immediate goods acquisition without credit terms. As a public company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, it serves as a key indicator of the health of the German industrial and commercial sectors, reflected in its inclusion in the DAX and other major indices. The group's history of spinning off major retail arms like MediaMarktSaturn and Ceconomy demonstrates its pivotal role in shaping the modern German consumer electronics and department store landscapes. Furthermore, its global reach, exemplified by subsidiaries like Makro in the Netherlands, underscores its influence on international trade and wholesale standards.

## Notable For
*   **Pioneering Cash and Carry:** The group is a leading proponent of the "cash and carry" wholesale model, a specific type of wholesale where customers pay immediately and transport goods themselves.
*   **Major Stock Index Component:** It has held a position in the DAX, the blue-chip index consisting of the 40 major German companies, highlighting its economic weight.
*   **Diverse Portfolio Spin-offs:** The entity is notable for its structural evolution, having separated major consumer-facing brands like MediaMarktSaturn and Ceconomy into independent entities.
*   **International Wholesale Branding:** Through the Makro brand, the group established a significant presence in the Dutch and broader European wholesale supermarket market.
*   **Historical Continuity:** The organization traces its operational roots to 1964, aligning with the post-war economic recovery and expansion of the Federal Republic of Germany.
*   **Significant Workforce:** The company has employed over 146,000 people at its peak, demonstrating its massive scale as an organizational unit.

## Body

### Corporate Identity and Classification
METRO Group is defined as a public company, business, and enterprise that undertakes commercial and industrial activities. As a public entity, it offers its securities for sale to the general public, distinguishing it from private firms. The organization functions as an enterprise producing goods and services with a degree of autonomy in decision-making, particularly regarding the allocation of current resources. Its primary industry classification is wholesale, which involves the sale of goods to retailers or other wholesalers, contrasting with the retail sector that sells directly to end-users. The company specifically utilizes the "cash and carry" model, a specialized form of wholesale.

### History and Origins
The entity was founded in 1964, emerging during a period of significant economic development in Germany. The country itself has a complex historical timeline, with the modern Federal Republic of Germany officially established on May 23, 1949, following the era of West Germany. Prior to this, the region saw the existence of Nazi Germany (1933), the Weimar Republic (1918), the German Empire (1871), and the North German Confederation (1867). The group's inception aligns with the modern era of the German state. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, which serves as the capital city of the German federated state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

### Leadership and Affiliations
Otto Beisheim is the central figure associated with METRO Group. He was a businessman who lived from 1924 to 2013 and held citizenship in both Germany and Switzerland. His occupation included roles as a businessman and entrepreneur. The group is affiliated with Beisheim, reflecting his foundational role in its creation and growth. Additionally, the entity has connections to broader European organizations, including the European Movement Germany, a voluntary organization founded in 1949, and the European Movement International, a political advocacy organization founded in 1948.

### Financial and Operational Metrics
The financial profile of METRO Group is substantial, with recorded revenue figures of 29,754,000,000.0, 24,765,000,000.0, 30,551,000,000.0, and 25,632,000,000.0 across different reporting periods. Total assets have been documented at 12,855,000,000.0, 12,819,000,000.0, and 11,648,000,000.0. The company's net profit has fluctuated, showing losses of -331,000,000.0 and -45,000,000.0, as well as a profit of 439,000,000.0. The workforce is extensive, with employee counts recorded at 146,301.0, 94,944.0, 95,141.0, and 97,639.0. These figures highlight the scale of operations and the economic impact of the enterprise.

### Subsidiaries and Owned Entities
METRO Group has a complex structure of owned or operated entities. It contains Makro, a Dutch brand of wholesale supermarket chains that was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in the Netherlands. The group has also owned or operated Galeria Kaufhof, a former German department store chain established in 1879 with headquarters in Cologne. Another significant entity is the MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group, a German corporate group comprising the consumer electronics retailers MediaMarkt and Saturn, founded in 1979. The group also operates Metro Cash & Carry, an international self-service wholesaler founded in 1964.

### Stock Market and Index Participation
As a public company, METRO Group is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, which was established in 1585. The company has been a component of the DAX, a blue-chip index consisting of the 40 major German companies. It has also been included in the MDAX, a stock market index, and the SDAX, which tracks 70 German Small Caps founded in 1999. These inclusions reflect the company's status as a major player in the German economy. The spin-off of Ceconomy, a company founded in 1996 that operates in the consumer electronics industry, represents a significant structural change in the group's portfolio.

### Digital and Informational Presence
The entity maintains an official website at https://www.metroag.de/. On Wikipedia, the company is titled "Metro AG" and has a sitelink count of 37, indicating a significant presence across various language editions. The entity also has a high sitelink count in related categories, such as 53 for "public company," 138 for "business," and 52 for "enterprise," reflecting its broad recognition and documentation in knowledge bases. The Düsseldorf Marathon, an annual race held since 2003, is another entity located in the same city, though not directly owned by the group.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/metro-ag?rid=479994110538-77)
2. [annual report](https://investors.metroag.de/-/media/project/mag/shared/global/newsroom-media/documents/financial-statements/2021-22-metro-annual-report_en.pdf)
3. [Source](https://bigbrotherawards.de/2003)
4. Open ISNI for Organizations
5. Bundestag Lobby Register
6. [Source](https://bildungspakt-bayern.de/stifter/)
7. [Source](https://www.lebensmittelverband.de/de/mitglieder/unsere-mitglieder/unternehmen-des-handels/)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](https://amadeus.bvdinfo.com/version-2019829/)
10. [Source](https://www.metrogroup.de/impressum)
11. [Condensed Report 2017/18](https://reports.metroag.de/condensed-report/2017-2018/financial-year-2017-18/employees.html#accordion5)
12. [Source](https://berichte.metroag.de/geschaeftsbericht/2020-2021/serviceseiten/downloads.html)
13. [annual report](https://newsroom.metroag.de/-/media/project/mag/shared/global/newsroom-media/documents/financial-statements/2022-23-metro-annual-report-en.pdf?rev=f8518f1b-62db-4b10-af20-89f16d8b85cc&dl=1)
14. [annual report](https://newsroom.metroag.de/-/media/project/mag/shared/global/newsroom-media/documents/financial-statements/2022-23-metro-annual-report-en.pdf)
15. BabelNet
16. Quora
17. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
18. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
19. YouTube API
20. Wikirate