Having sold its CEE Real chain to Auchan, Metro Properties plans to develop its Cash&Carry, Media Markt and Saturn chains, according to Polish media reports. “We see great potential in the local, traditional and independent store on the Polish market,” said Renata Juszkiewicz of Metro Properties. This is why Metro wants to expand its franchise program for its Makro C&C chain and Odido network. “So far, 1,300 stores have joined the program. Thanks to its potential, Makro is an important integrator on the Polish retail market,” Juszkiewicz said.
Metro Group is set to offload 91 hypermarkets across CEE to Auchan, including markets in Poland, Romania and Ukraine and Russia. First, however, the deal needs to be approved by antitrust offices. A decision is expected in 2013.
“In the future, all hypermarkets by Real will be operating under the Auchan logo,” Auchan said in a statement. Real employs 20,000 workers in CEE and had a €2.36bn turnover last year.
