Makro, the Leader in Self-serve Wholesale, Lays the Foundation Stone for its First Wholesale Store in El Salam City.
Released on - Monday,02 November , 2009 -15:09 00
Today, Makro Egypt, celebrated the ground-breaking for its first wholesale store in El Salam City.
The wholesale store is planned to open its gates to professional customers in mid 2010.
This marks the first of twelve stores Makro Egypt plans to open within the coming three years.
His Excellency Eng. Rashid Mohamed Rachid Minister of Trade and Industry , His Excellency General Abdel Salam Mahgoub Minister of Local Development and Dr Abdel Azim Wazeer Governor of Cairo laid the cornerstone of the first Makro store on October 27th 2009 in Al Salam City.
The new store will be built on 10,000 square meters of land with the remaining 20 000 m2 allocated to parking.
“We have been studying the business as well as trade structures and analyzing our market opportunities in Egypt and specifically Cairo thoroughly.
We are therefore firmly convinced that this El Salam City offers a great potential for our sophisticated self-service wholesale concept”, says Jean Pierre Bienfait Managing Director of Makro Egypt.
On average a new Makro outlet is an investment of around 120 – 160 million Egyptian Pounds (15 – 20 million Euros).
Mr Pierre added that if preconditions are met - like foremost the securing of land-plots and obtaining the necessary licenses – MAKRO sees a potential for opening up to 12 wholesale stores in Egypt with an average investment of about 120 – 160 million Egyptian Pounds(15 to 20 million Euros) per store.
The opening of the first store in Egypt is planned for early summer 2010.
Depending on the overall economic development, Bienfait added, that MAKRO’s short term plan includes opening 10 stores and estimates that the long-term plan includes the potential of opening more than 20 outlets.
Due to an already existing registered trademark, the wholesaler will operate its Egyptian stores under the “MAKRO” brand name.
MAKRO is a member of the German METRO Group which is one of the largest international retailing companies. In 2008 the Group reached sales of around € 67 billion.
The company has approximately 280,000 employees and operates over 2,200 stores in 31 countries.
MAKRO’s business is mainly characterised by its target group. MAKRO’s core customers are hotels, restaurants, caterers, canteens as well as small and medium-sized retailers, institutions, service firms and other companies.
MAKRO does not sell directly to consumers; it is not a supermarket or hypermarket chain for private consumption, but a modern form of wholesale for businesses. Customers have to have a business licence and will be provided with a free of charge customer card to access the stores.
The assortment, service and layout of MAKRO’s self-service wholesale stores are closely tailored to the special needs of professional customers.
The store in El Salam will be built on 10000 square metres offering a comprehensive and a high-quality assortment of up to 18,000 food and non-food products at favourable wholesale prices.
Many goods are offered in bulk and multi-packs for large-scale consumption.
Hence, professional customers will find everything they need under one roof to run their own business – from well-known international brands and attractive private label products to national and regional specialties.
Moreover, the outlet will provide extended opening hours from 6 am to 1 pm and will help small and medium-sized companies in El Salam and its surrounding areas as well as the entire city to enhance their own business.
At the same time the wholesaler will create 250 new jobs and give a positive stimulus to the consumer goods industry, as up to 90% percent of the goods will be procured locally.
MAKRO also acts like a warehouse for its customers and helps them to improve their cash management.
"With this offer, we directly support small and medium-sized businesses by strengthening their competitiveness", said Jean Pierre Bienfait.
MAKRO lives up to its responsibilities to society – not only as a reliable taxpayer and employer, but also as a pioneer in supporting local suppliers.
‘In developing our own business, the company contributes to the country’s progress’ says Francois Oliver the new Managing Director of MAKRO Egypt effective November 1st.
MAKRO supports the development of modern trade infrastructures along the entire supply chain.
It helps build direct supply sources, reduce waste and supports farmers in getting better prices for their produce while providing better quality products to its professional customers.