Wholesale retailer METRO to exit Kazakhstan
Germany’s METRO wholesale chain will exit the Kazakhstani market after 16 years of operations. The company will close its six stores by March 2027, according to a statement.
The company said the decision followed an assessment of METRO’s business prospects in Kazakhstan conducted over the past few months. It said it struggled to build a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the local market, despite the local team improving its customer offering and adapting its operations to the market.
METRO Kazakhstan currently employs 650 people. The company said that throughout the closure process, it will treat its employees fairly and with respect and comply with all applicable labor legislation.
«This is an exceptionally difficult moment for everyone at METRO Kazakhstan. … Our priority now is to manage this process responsibly and respectfully, while taking into account the interests of our 650 employees, as well as our customers and suppliers who rely on METRO Kazakhstan,» METRO Kazakhstan CEO Mesut Doğukan said.
METRO entered the Kazakh market in October 2009, becoming the first international wholesale company to operate in the country. Over the years, it built a network of stores and a supply and logistics chain. METRO Kazakhstan also operated as a partner to HoReCa and trade companies. As part of this, the company expanded its delivery services to strengthen its wholesale operations.
At the same time, the company said it struggled to identify growth opportunities in the specialized food wholesale market, with its customer base spread across different regions.
METRO AG operates a store network in more than 30 countries and employs more than 84,000 people worldwide. Its sales totaled €32.4 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
It is worth noting that METRO AG previously lost operational control of its Russian subsidiary after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree introducing temporary administration. The assets of Metro Cash & Carry were transferred to UK Torg RUS.
