Metro Group history

He turned over the reins to close associate Erwin Conradi, who had joined Metro in 1970.

Nine western European countries became home to Metro and Makro wholesale outlets by 1972.

In late 1992, the Metro added another retail conglomerate to its portfolio, buying a majority stake in the German holding company Asko Deutsche Kaufhaus.

By 1993, privately held Metro had controlling stakes in Kaufhof, Asko, and Asko's subsidiary Deutsche SB-Kauf--all companies listed on European stock exchanges.

Conradi announced in October 1995 that Metro Holding planned to establish a new company--Metro AG--by merging its four largest German operations: Kaufhof, Asko, SB-Kauf, and Metro Cash & Carry.

Sales increased to DM 56.8 billion (US$31.7 billion), but net profit fell from DM 717 million (US$393 million) in 1996 to DM 623 million (US$309 million). Even with added expansion costs, the profit figures weighed in lower than management expected.

Also in 1997, METRO Cash & Carry bought out the European MAKRO operations from Dutch SHV.

The buying and selling continued into 1998.

Zagelmeyer, Stefan, "METRO Social and Employment Standards to be Maintained in Transferred Companies," European Industrial Relations Observatory Online, posted February 28, 1999, http://www .eiro.eurofound.ie.

Metro continued its advance into e-commerce and in June 2000 Metro acquired controlling interest in Cologne-based Internet service company Primus-Online.

Metro opened another 80 retail outlets in 2001, bringing the store count up to 2,249.

2002: The company's cash-and-carry operations expand to Vietnam.

By 2003 he expected sales figures for outlets outside Germany to exceed those within its borders.