Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings has partnered with international wholesale/retail food company Metro Group to establish an integrated wholesale Myanmar distribution platform.

Metro Wholesale Myanmar aims to address the “evolving needs” of professional customers. Yoma Strategic holds a 15 per cent stake in the business with the remaining 85 per cent taken by the German group.

“Metro Myanmar will leverage on Metro’s procurement capabilities and Yoma Strategic’s logistics, warehousing and fleet-leasing businesses to fast-track its growth,” the companies say in a joint statement.

Metro Myanmar is looking at improving the nation’s supply chain. It will be offering more than 3300 food and other items to such customers as hotels, restaurants and independent small retailers.

As Myanmar retailers need to source products in different ways from distributors and importers, Metro is looking at creating a one-stop wholesale distribution platform.

“We are confident our partnership with Metro will bring global knowhow in modern wholesale distribution and contribute to bringing reliable and safe food to the people in Myanmar,” says Yoma Strategic CEO Melvyn Pun.

Metro is active in 35 countries with sales reaching about €37 billion (US$39 billion) in 2015-16. Its B2B wholesale division Metro Cash & Carry serves hotels, restaurants, small retail and catering firms across Europe and Asia.