The launch of Metro Myanmar business marks the German wholesaler’s 36th international market.

The company has announced a warehouse in Yangon, aiming to serve local professional customers in the fast-growing hospitality and tourism sectors.

“The food wholesale industry in Myanmar offers big potentials for Metro,” said the firm’s COO and management board member Philippe Palazzi, “and we believe our engagement in the trade sector will contribute to the local economic growth including the agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors, and help upgrade the food wholesale infrastructure sustainably for the local community.”

As distinct from its operations in other countries, Metro Myanmar will not run wholesale stores but provide a virtual shopping experience for customers through its e-commerce and delivery systems.

Central to the wholesale operations in Myanmar is the 5800sqm warehouse situated in Thilawa Special Economic Zone outside Yangon. It is a modern logistics facility where incoming goods are received, stored, processed and packed in compliance with stringent quality and food safety standards for delivery to customers.

Now right at the start of its operations, Metro Myanmar is already serving about 300 customers across the country that can now select from an assortment of more than 2000 food and non-food products. Customers place orders digitally through Metro’s website and mobile app, and the delivery is carried out with a fleet of modern temperature-controlled trucks.

With local sourcing and food safety improvement a top priority for the country, the firm has been making continuous efforts to build up strong partnerships with local producers. These engagements include training as well as knowledge and expertise transfer for food suppliers and farmers across different regions and states in Myanmar. Over 90 per cent of the current workforce at Metro Myanmar, which is about 150 employees, is staffed by local talent.