The people working at METRO MARKETS are proud to be geeks – as is states on their shirts. Since the launch of the METRO Marketplace in September 2019 over 300 sellers have joined the platform, offering more than 500,000 products for restaurants, hotels and caterers as well as non-commercial customers. To John Bettiol, Head of Engineering at METRO MARKETS, ‘customers’ are the sellers on the marketplace platform. In our interview he talks about the most important ingredients for the success of his team – and why he loves working for the fairly new subsidiary.
What is special about METRO MARKETS – which was kind of a corporate tech start-up within METRO AG?
You can’t call it a tech start-up – or start-up at all for that matter. And that’s why it’s special. We already know what we need to do, we know what is needed for market-fit because METRO has been working with the hospitality sector for decades. And as part of METRO we were lucky to have skipped the phase when you start with absolutely nothing because from the very beginning, we had fantastic support from the headquarters. We also have very senior and experienced individuals in all areas. Where most start-ups have a business plan and some vague expectations, we have yearly commitments, are 100 % audited and are really serious with compliance and responsibility. Although chaotic in the first months, this place has felt far more mature and organised than anywhere else I’ve worked.
You’ve worked with many companies in many countries. How – and why – did you start working with METRO MARKETS?
Well, initially I applied for the Chief Technical Officer position but then retracted my application because I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue doing top level roles. But some time and another project later I contacted them again and asked whether there was a non-C-level role I could apply for. I just felt that I could provide more value that way. I’ve been taking on leadership roles before, but I just really like working ‘in the field’. I wanted to be free to do that and be able to build a team and to mentor them.