Directly from the source to the shelf – that is METRO’s basic idea when it comes to global procurement of food. From salmon fillets from Norway and lemons from Italy to American beef from the USA – a network of international trading offices (ITOs) is responsible for the procurement of the best products worldwide. Each location specialises in a specific category: Valencia is responsible for fruits and vegetables, Rotterdam for fresh and frozen meat, Concarneau for fresh fish and seafood. There are additional locations in Hong Kong and Düsseldorf.
All international trading offices rely on the strategy of common sourcing, i.e. they bundle the demand volume of the various METRO countries and go directly to the source. There are no middlemen. This leads to short supply chains, competitive prices and high availability of merchandise. Moreover, direct procurement enables unique and sustainably designed assortments distinguished by variety, freshness and quality.