METRO GROUP 2013/14

France

„I make sure that no vegetables become forgotten. And that’s something my customers appreciate.“
Alain Colas METRO Cash & Carry France

One of us:

Name
Alain Colas
Age
56
Works as
Assistant manager in the fruit and vegetable department
In
Saint-Malo
Since
2004

Alain Colas is a big fan of the Middle Ages and he loves old varieties of vegetables. The former chef likes nothing better than putting on his historical trader’s outfit and making his way to the medieval market of Dinan. Cabbage, rhubarb, artichokes, turnips – everything that is healthy and delicious lands in his basket. And the customers of METRO Cash & Carry also get to benefit from his knowledge and his enthusiasm, because Alain Colas works as an assistant manager in the fruit and vegetable department of the store in Saint-Malo.

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

    Alain Colas enjoys the hustle and bustle as much as he does the scents of fresh herbs.

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

  • Mont-Saint-Michel, France

    Dinan is surrounded by many more historic locations. The famous island monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel has retained much of its medieval charm to this day. The island and its abbey attract tourists from all over the world.

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

    People and animals, citizens and beggars: the historical market is a colourful mix of past and present. Alain Colas enjoys the hustle and bustle as much as he does the scents of fresh herbs.

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

  • Dinan, France

    Medieval market: Fête des Remparts

  • Saint-Malo, France

    Visitors to Saint-Malo can enjoy a great view of the harbour and the coast of Brittany from the city walls.

  • Saint-Malo, France

    The historical old town and fresh seafood are two of many reasons for a visit to the port town of Saint-Malo.

At its finest

France is considered the cradle of fine cuisine. Hardly any other country boasts as many gourmet temples and award-winning restaurants – 3,000 of which are customers of METRO Cash & Carry France. This gives the company a 30 per cent share of revenue in the luxury segment. To better exploit this impressive volume, which amounts to an estimated €300 million, the wholesaler developed an exclusive highlight: METRO Premium, a high-end range of goods specifically tailored to the fine-dining segment. This line focuses on the very best of foods, including gourmet fish and seafood, meat, cheese and wine, while also offering selected supplies for restaurant service and furnishing. The exclusive product range is attractively displayed in stylish premium areas of the wholesale stores. The overall package is supplemented by high-quality catalogues that address the target group. This has been a success: with around 590 starred chefs now shopping at the wholesaler, METRO Cash & Carry France has been able to post a turnover increase of 6 per cent over the past twelve months. One anticipated side effect of the new concept is that, although the offer is specifically directed at gourmet restaurants, the product line is also designed to catch the attention of other Horeca customers.

At its finest: at a glance

Important target group: Gourmet restaurants

Special assortment: METRO Premium

Interesting for many target groups

France In figures

BONJOUR! (Hello!)
AU REVOIR! (Bye!)
Land area
543,965 km2
Population
64.0 million
Currency
euro [EUR]

In terms of land area, France is the largest country of the European Union and the second most populous next to Germany. Its diverse landscape is captivating – from the rough Atlantic coast to the sunny Côte d’Azur and on to the mountainous regions of the Alps and the Pyrenees. France’s economy is among the world’s strongest and is the fifth-largest worldwide. France is also the second-largest industrial country in Europe next to Germany. Major pillars of the economy include the aviation and automotive industries, energy, food and agriculture, luxury goods, pharmaceutical products and the chemical and electronics industries. The largest sector in France is, however, the service sector, in which almost 75 per cent of those employed in the country work.

Food is of great importance to the French. Therefore, France has the second-highest rate of per capita spending on food in Europe, behind Switzerland. Large superstores – also called hypermarkets – dominate the retail landscape, offering a large selection of food and non-food items. The well-stocked hypermarket is a French invention, and other formats such as supermarkets and discounters have a significantly smaller standing in France.

Travel tips

Restaurant tip

DZ'Envies

12 Rue Odebert
21000 Dijon

Google Maps

www.dzenvies.com

In his bistro at the marketplace in Dijon, David Zuddas combines French cuisine with North African and Asian influences. He was awarded a Michelin star in 2014.

In his bistro at the marketplace in Dijon, David Zuddas combines French cuisine with North African and Asian influences. He was awarded a Michelin star in 2014.

Restaurant tip

Les écuries du Château

2 Grande Rue 78720
Dampierre-en-Yvelines

Google Maps

www.lesecuriesduchateau.com

Hotel tip

L’hostellerie du Nord

6 Rue du Général de Gaulle
95430 Auvers-sur-Oise

Google Maps

www.hostelleriedunord.fr

Hotel tip

Le jardin des plumes

1 rue du Milieu
27620 Giverny

Google Maps

www.lejardindesplumes.fr

In Monet’s neighbourhood: in the picturesque northern French village of Giverny, Le Jardin des Plumes is an oasis of tranquillity and ease. The house and garden of the famous impressionist painter are located very close by.

In Monet’s neighbourhood: in the picturesque northern French village of Giverny, Le Jardin des Plumes is an oasis of tranquillity and ease. The house and garden of the famous impressionist painter are located very close by.

Etiquette

In France, restaurant guests leave a much lower tip than in many other countries. While in Germany, a tip of at least 10 per cent is seen as appropriate, in France, 5 per cent is rather common. Guests should leave their tip on the table without comment.

Facts & figures

METRO Cash & Carry France

METRO Cash & Carry France is the second-largest market outside Germany, with sales of about €4.1 billion. The company already opened its first store in the nation of gourmets in 1971. To date, METRO Cash & Carry has no fewer than 93 stores in France. To meet the needs of French commercial customers, the company has developed a number of different format innovations. These include city stores which are close at hand and the METRO Drive concept with decentralised collection points.

  • Market entry
    1971
    Number of wholesale stores
    93
    Number of employees
    8,559
  • Head Office
    Nanterre
    Distance to Dusseldorf
    417 km
  • Selling space in m2
    455,871
    Locations
1 2 3