For Martin Treibert, nothing is sweeter than honeybees. In Kirchhain near Marburg, the beekeeping enthusiast looks after 20 bee colonies with more than 400,000 bees. Harvesting the honey is a real treat for any bee expert: twice a year, Martin Treibert extracts the healthy natural product from the combs. He sells honey and beeswax candles from home and at the Christmas markets in the region. Martin Treibert also shares his love of nature and his passion for the great outdoors with his customers – as an expert for seasonal goods at the METRO Cash & Carry store in Linden.
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
The basic rule for beekeepers is: never go to the hives without smoke. So Martin Treibert always uses a smoker. Its smoke makes the bees think that there is a fire. This causes them to withdraw deep into the hive and allows the beekeeper to work safely.
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
Kirchhain, Germany
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
Kirchhain, Germany
On the field with his honeybees
Kirchhain, Germany
Kirchhain, Germany
While his bees are in their winter dormancy, the honey is processed. Martin Treibert fills his honey jars by hand from a special container.
Kirchhain, Germany
Kirchhain, Germany
Martin Treibert’s hometown of Kirchhain has a population of over 16,000 – the population of his beehives sometimes exceeds 400,000.
Marburg, Germany
The view over Marburg and its castle: the historic building is perched high above the old town and is one of the city’s main attractions.
Everything for Mediterranean cuisine
Pizza, pasta, tapas, coq au vin – Mediterranean specialities are very popular in Germany. This is evident in the gastronomic landscape, with restaurants offering a Mediterranean menu featured in almost every town. This is why Italian, Spanish and French restaurateurs are a key target group for METRO Cash & Carry Germany and are worthy of special attention. The company observed that many chefs favour original products when preparing certain specialities, which had previously been a gap in the product range. To close this gap, METRO Cash & Carry introduced a Mediterranean product range in Germany in the summer of 2013. It includes fine oils and vinegars, original Italian pasta variations, pre-portioned amuse-gueules as well as tartelettes, macarons and an extensive selection of antipasti. The Mediterranean delicacies were compiled by Category Management in close cooperation with Michelin-starred chef Patrik Jaros. The Czech-born Jaros is an author and food stylist of countless cookbooks. As a consultant, he also develops diverse and innovative concepts for the restaurant and retail sectors. Together with Category Management staff, Patrik Jaros travelled to Italy, Spain and France to draw inspiration from the products available in those countries’ METRO Cash & Carry stores. Following extensive testing and tasting, some 300 items made their way onto the shelves of the German stores. And the customers are clearly delighted by these new additions – a sales growth of nearly 41.3 per cent in this segment in only eleven months speaks for itself. Additionally, the Mediterranean product range has been expanded since the beginning of 2014 to include a further 80 items from Greece and Turkey.
Everything for the Mediterranean cuisine: at a glance
Demand for Mediterranean products
METRO offers Mediterranean assortment
Satisfied chefs
Germany In figures
GUTEN TAG! (Hello!)
Land area
357,050 km2
Population
81.0 million
Currency
euro [EUR]
Covering an area of 357,050 square kilometres and with a population of around 81 million, Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the European Union with 226 people per square kilometre. With a gross domestic product of €2.8 billion in 2013, the German national economy ranks fourth in the world in this regard. Germany is also the world’s second-largest export nation behind China. The country’s major industries include the automotive, machinery and chemical sectors, and its biggest trading partners include France, the USA and the UK. Altogether, the German economy emerged from the global financial crisis in relatively good shape and has since followed an above-average trajectory when compared with the rest of Western Europe. The German trade sector is characterised by a high market saturation. The greatest challenge for the market players is the extreme price sensitivity of consumers, which leads to comparatively low margins and significant competitive constraints. One effect of this retail landscape is the strong market share held by discounters, at which many consumers in particular do their daily grocery shopping.
With its rustic atmosphere, Gasthaus Paesch invites guests to fully enjoy German cuisine. Especially the homemade jams are to die for – they are made up of ingredients from the restaurant’s own garden. Another highlight is the “Arme Ritter” (poor knight) with applesauce and custard.
With its rustic atmosphere, Gasthaus Paesch invites guests to fully enjoy German cuisine. Especially the homemade jams are to die for – they are made up of ingredients from the restaurant’s own garden. Another highlight is the “Arme Ritter” (poor knight) with applesauce and custard.
This conference hotel and event venue lies about 30 minutes from the centre of Berlin. In the 19th century, German writer Theodor Fontane praised the lake and forest scenery of Brandenburg’s Dahme-Spreewald region. Apart from this beautiful setting, hotel guests today appreciate the personal service, the peaceful atmosphere and the hotel’s private beach.
This conference hotel and event venue lies about 30 minutes from the centre of Berlin. In the 19th century, German writer Theodor Fontane praised the lake and forest scenery of Brandenburg’s Dahme-Spreewald region. Apart from this beautiful setting, hotel guests today appreciate the personal service, the peaceful atmosphere and the hotel’s private beach.
Etiquette
A handshake is offered as a greeting. At business functions, the highest-ranking person is greeted first. In Germany, punctuality is recommended for appointments and when invited to a special event; arriving late is often interpreted as a lack of interest.
Facts & figures
METRO Cash & Carry Germany
METRO Cash & Carry’s success story began in 1964 with the opening of its first wholesale store in Mülheim an der Ruhr. This concept, which was completely new at the time, quickly met with great interest. In Germany, METRO Cash & Carry has 56 METRO wholesale stores and 51 C+C Schaper stores. The company employs around 15,000 people and, with annual sales of around €4 billion, is Germany’s leading wholesale company.
