The end of the year to see Metro Cash&Carry opening logistics and HoReCa centers - In August, Pozarevac to get Metro by Measure

This year, Metro Cash&Carry is planning to invest some EUR 1 mil in Serbia, i.e. in the opening of new store Metro by measure in August in Pozarevac, as well as in the opening of the logisics and HoReCa center by the end of the year, which will sell catering goods, General Manager of Metro Cash&Carry Serbia, Veronika Punceva, said.

A total of EUR 400.000 will be invested in Pozarevac-based Metro by measure, which is, after the one in Sabac and Uzice, third in size in Serbia. It will employ 15 people.

Veronika Punceva said Metro Cash&Carry exported products of Serbian producers in eight countries. She explained that Serbian producers’ products, such as canned and frozen food, cookies, household cleaning products and others, were sold in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, the Chez Republic, Ukraine and Moldova through Metro Cash&Carry

As she said, Metro Cash&Carry cooperated with some 120 domestic producers, producing some 1.000 items for company labels. Punceva estimated she was satisfied with the cooperation with Serbian producers, adding that everybody fulfilling quality standards were welcomed.

Metro Cash&Carry successfully cooperates with small trading shops which are “the spine of Serbian trade” and generate 60% of total trade which is different than in other countries.

Speaking of due dates, Punceva said the company sticks to its deadlines strictly which, in most of the categories, are 60 days as well as that crisis did not influence the prolongation of deadlines.

She estimated the economic crisis had negative effects on small trading stores business which are struggling to survive and additional negative impact was generated by the Regulation on price difference on basic ingredients because these products make sales stake majority in small shops.

In 2001, Metro Cash&Carry generated an income of EUR 208 mil and, as Punceva said, this year they were expecting an increase in comparison to last year but could not state the exact figure.

- Customers are having difficulties in fighting crisis. In 2012, we can see the HoReCa sector sales growth trend, but also with other customers too – Punceva said.

Metro Cash&Carry Serbia started business in beginning of 2005 and it has sales center in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Novi Sad, Nis, Subotica, Sabac and Uzice.