The group has 31 hypermarkets in Romania, of which 23 Metro Cash&Carry units and three Real units. Last year, sales of the two chains exceeded €1.5 billion.
Globally, the sales of Metro's cash&carry division rose 5.2 percent year-on-year in H1, to €14.8 billion. Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa posted the highest sales within the group (a 13.2 percent rise for Eastern Europe and 16.5 percent for Asia and Africa).
Sales in Western Europe rose in H1 by 0.4 percent year-on-year, with French and Spanish branches reporting the best results, and Germany's sales dropping by 1.1 percent. Metro Cash&Carry has a total of 586 stores in 28 countries. International sales amounted to 81.6 percent of total company revenues. The chain's gross profit rose by 12.8 percent year-on-year, to €383 million.
The Real division also posted a rise in business. Sales exceeded €6 billion, 26.9 percent higher year-on-year. The most dynamic region was Eastern Europe. International sales amounted to 16.6 percent of total sales. However, the Real chain reported losses of €108 million, from €34 million year-on-year, due to costs to integrate operations of the chain, purchased by the German group in 2006, and to expansion on the Eastern European market.
