Makro is a chain of self-service wholesale stores, so called cash and carrys. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. During the 1970's and 1980's Makro extended its business to the Americas and Asia.

Makro was owned by the Nederlandse Steenkolen Handels Vereniging (SHV ). The still privately owned SHV originated in 1896 from a merger between a number of large coal trading companies, some of which had been active since the 18th century.

In 1998 the European Makro stores were acquired by Metro AG a German based retail and wholesale company founded in 1964. The Non-European Makro stores are still owned by SHV, except for the ones in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Those are owned by Massmart Holdings Limited.

European stores can be found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece and the United Kingdom. In the UK, as of early 2005 there were 33 locations and annual turnover was more than £1 billion.

Makro sells both food and non-food products. The stores are not open to the general public, but serve the following sectors:

• Traders, such as newsagents and convenience stores.
• Caterers, such as restaurants and hotels.
• Complimentary business users, such as doctors surgeries and universities.

External links

Metro AG site

Makro UK site

SHV site

Non-European Makro stores

On the Makro/Metro merger