Metro puts local products on display

BEARING FRUIT: Metro Group’s procurement office will open new global markets for Vietnam’s products

Established in 1976 with its head office in Hong Kong, Metro Group Buying (MGB) serves as the leading distribution agent of Germany’s Metro Group. MGB runs regional offices and respective sub-agencies in all major procurement markets in the world.
MGB’s procurement office in Ho Chi Minh City will help source and supply both food and non-food products from local producers to worldwide customers through the distribution network of Metro Cash & Carry, a wholesale company within the Metro Group.
“MGB opened a representative office in Vietnam two years ago with only two staff who were responsible for providing consultancy to Metro companies to explore non-food sources within the country,” Metro Cash & Carry Communications Manager Tran Thi Thanh Thuy told Vietnam Investment Review.
MGB will operate a procurement office with an initial staff of 30 sourcing both products in Vietnam for Metro distributors based on stronger customer demand for Vietnamese goods, particularly seafood, fruits and vegetables.
“Vietnam offers lots of good opportunities in food and the government is really pushing its seafood and agricultural sector,” according to Uwe Hoelzer, Metro’s local managing director.
Thuy also stressed that this was a good time for the Metro to accelerate goods sourcing from Vietnam as it has already set up a country-wide network of suppliers who have been able to meet the demand for quality goods of the Metro and its international customers.
“We are very happy to see the increase in product quality and skills of local producers. As part of its own quality management, Metro Cash & Carry is applying EU standards not only in the European region but also in every other country where the company is represented,” Thuy said.
The Ho Chi Minh City-based procurement office will also be responsible for checking goods origins and supporting local producers’ export activities.
“The procurement office will help boost exports of Vietnamese products to many countries in the world through the distribution network of Metro Cash & Carry with 550 locations in 28 countries so far,” Thuy said.




No. 795/January 8-14, 2007