German retail titan Metro today [Thursday] reported a robust set of third quarter operating profits.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The world’s fifth-largest retailer outstripped expectations by posting a 16.1% rise in earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to €188m (US$185m). Analysts had widely forecast EBIT at €171m.


The company said it still expected to deliver its stated goal for 2002 for a 10% rise in earnings per share.


Sales in the quarter climbed 7.2% to €12.36bn, again bettering analysts’ expectations. A downturn in consumer demand led it nevertheless to cut back its 2002 sales targets, which it now puts at a 5-5.5% increase, down from earlier forecasts of 5.5-6%.


The company’s core cash & carry business performed most robustly, while the electronic consumer goods arms Media Markt and Saturn also saw sales rise in the period under review.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Metro has also announced the appointment of Stefan Feuerstein to its management board. For further information, click here.



 

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact