Makro

From Wikicompany

Makro, a subsidiary of the Metro Group, is a chain of self-service wholesale stores (also called cash and carrys stores).

European Makro stores can be found in: the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece and the United Kingdom. In the UK, as of early 2005 there were 33 locations and annual turnover was more than £1 billion.

The Non-European Makro stores are still owned by SHV, except for the ones in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Those are owned by Massmart Holdings Limited.

Makro sells both food and non-food products. The stores are not open to the general public, but serve the following sectors:

• Traders, such as newsagents and convenience stores.
• Caterers, such as restaurants and hotels.
• Complimentary business users, such as doctors surgeries and universities.

History

Makro was owned by the Dutch coal mining company SHV (Steenkolen Handels Vereniging). The still privately owned SHV originated in 1896 from a merger between a number of large coal trading companies, some of which had been active since the 18th century.

The first Makro opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe.

During the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and Asia.

In 1998 the European Makro stores were acquired by Metro AG a German based retail and wholesale company founded in 1964.

Wikipedia article about Makro (search). This article uses material from that article.

Makro Metro Group Wholesale Netherlands Belgium Poland Czech Republic Greece United Kingdom 1968