Makro
Encyclopedia
Makro is a Dutch
chain of Warehouse club
s, also called cash and carries
. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and Asia. Makro later closed its North American sites, however. The stores are not open to the general public (except Brazilian consumers), only to businesses which must be registered members in order to gain entry to the store.
originated in 1896 from a merger between a number of large coal mining companies, some of which had been active since the 18th century.
In 1998 the European Makro stores were acquired by Metro
a German-based retail
and wholesale
company.
.
The food section always includes an in-store bakery, a wine section, fresh meat and butchery department, and refrigerated aisles. The non-food area includes clothing, DIY, jewellery, office supplies, electricals, computing, and seasonals such as garden furniture.
Special offers are featured via a printed and online fortnightly brochure known as Makro Mail.
The stores are not open to the general public, but serve the following sectors:
Customers can shop at Makro with a membership card.
Makro UK used to have the tag-line "The UK's No.1 Discounter". This tag-line was replaced with "For Professionals". Makro has subsequently changed this to "Your business partner everyday".
Recent changes to the Makro UK structure include the closure of three stores: Wolverhampton, Coventry and Swansea. Metro have announced that the company has to be financially independent by 2011.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
chain of Warehouse club
Warehouse club
A warehouse club is a retail store, usually selling a wide variety of merchandise, in which customers are required to buy large, wholesale quantities of the store's products, which makes these clubs attractive to both bargain hunters and small business owners. The clubs are able to keep prices low...
s, also called cash and carries
Cash and carry (wholesale)
Cash and carry wholesale represents a type of operation within the wholesale sector. Its main features are summarized best by the following definitions:...
. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and Asia. Makro later closed its North American sites, however. The stores are not open to the general public (except Brazilian consumers), only to businesses which must be registered members in order to gain entry to the store.
Ownership
The still privately owned SHVSHV Holdings
SHV Holdings is a privately owned Dutch trading company, regarded as one of the world's largest private trading groups. SHV have interests in transport, retail, oil and financial services, including part of the Makro cash-and-carry chain.-History:...
originated in 1896 from a merger between a number of large coal mining companies, some of which had been active since the 18th century.
In 1998 the European Makro stores were acquired by Metro
Metro AG
Metro AG is a diversified retail and wholesale/cash and carry group based in Düsseldorf, Germany. It has the largest market share in its home market, and is one of the most globalised retail and wholesale corporations. It is the fourth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues . In English...
a German-based retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
and wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
company.
Latest news
- UK
- In 2009 Makro is the third largest cash & carry wholesaler in the UK with a turnover of £1.1bn and a portfolio of 30 depots nationally.
- Philippines
- The Pilipinas Makro, which operates the Makro stores in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, originally was a partnership between the Sy family’s SM group, SHV Holdings N.V. of the Netherlands, and the Ayala group. But in 2004 the Ayala group sold its 28-percent interest in Makro to its joint-venture partners, and in late 2007 SM Investments folded the Makro stores into its operations after it increased its ownership of Pilipinas Makro to 60 percent. The SM group now holds 100 percent of Makro, and in the next few years, all Makro outlets will be converted into SM Hypermarkets. As of 10 December 2010, 6 Makro Stores in the Philippines have been converted to SM Hypermarkets.
- The Pilipinas Makro, which operates the Makro stores in the Philippines
- Malaysia
- On 31 January 2007, Makro Malaysia was acquired by TescoTescoTesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
. All 8 stores in Malaysia were converted to Tesco Extra.
- On 31 January 2007, Makro Malaysia was acquired by Tesco
- Indonesia
- In September 2008, Makro IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
was acquired by LotteLotte (conglomerate)Lotte Co., Ltd. is a South Korean-Japanese Jaebeol and one of the largest food and shopping groups in South Korea and Japan. Lotte was established in June 1948, in Tokyo, by Japanese-educated, Korean businessman Shin Kyuk-Ho – also known as...
. As of 14 April 2010, Makro Indonesia changed their name into Lotte Mart WholesaleLotte MartLotte Mart is a hypermarket in Asia that sells a variety of groceries, clothing, toys, electronics, and other goods. Lotte Mart is a division of the Lotte Co., Ltd. which is one of the most prevalent food and shopping services in South Korea and Japan. Lotte Mart, part of the Korean conglomerate...
.
- In September 2008, Makro Indonesia
- South Africa
- The first Makro in South Africa was opened in Germiston in 1971. In 1990 MassmartMassmartMassmart is a South African firm that owns local brands such as Game, Makro, Builders’ Warehouse and CBW. It is the third largest distributor of consumer goods in Africa, the largest retailer of general merchandise, liquor and home improvement equipment and wholesaler of basic foods. It currently...
was established with the six South African Makro's as its cornerstone. In June 2011 Walmart completed the purchase of 51% of Massmart. With this purcahase Walmart now has controlling interest of the 14 Makro stores in South Africa.
- The first Makro in South Africa was opened in Germiston in 1971. In 1990 Massmart
Store locations
European stores can be found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. Stores have stretched as far as Pakistan, Philippines, and eastern Asia, South Africa, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil (76 Stores across the Country).Product range
Makro sells food and non-food products, usually located in different sections of the store. Each store also contains a hot-food cafeteria, and a cash machineCash Machine
"Cash Machine" is the debut single by English indie rock band Hard-Fi, taken from their debut album Stars of CCTV. It was originally released on 24 January 2005, where it was ineligible in the UK Singles Chart due to the inclusion of a sticker...
.
The food section always includes an in-store bakery, a wine section, fresh meat and butchery department, and refrigerated aisles. The non-food area includes clothing, DIY, jewellery, office supplies, electricals, computing, and seasonals such as garden furniture.
Special offers are featured via a printed and online fortnightly brochure known as Makro Mail.
The stores are not open to the general public, but serve the following sectors:
- Traders, such as newsagentNewsagentA newsagent's shop , newsagency or newsstand is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, cigarettes, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, these businesses are termed newsagents...
s and convenience storeConvenience storeA convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s. - Caterers, such as restaurants and hotels.
- Complementary business users, such as doctor's surgeries, schools, universities, sport clubs and associations.
Customers can shop at Makro with a membership card.
Makro UK used to have the tag-line "The UK's No.1 Discounter". This tag-line was replaced with "For Professionals". Makro has subsequently changed this to "Your business partner everyday".
Recent changes to the Makro UK structure include the closure of three stores: Wolverhampton, Coventry and Swansea. Metro have announced that the company has to be financially independent by 2011.