Sales and earnings development

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Development of group sales by region

At €12.0 billion, reported sales in Germany were 2.6% lower than in the . Like-for-like sales decreased by 1.7%. Following a difficult first half of the year during which sales at and Real declined considerably, the trend improved significantly during the second half of the year.

The reported sales in the international business increased by 3.7% to €25.2 billion. This is especially due to the opening of new stores and the acquisition of Pro à Pro. Currency effects also played a part. International sales rose by 3.0% in local currency. Like-for-like sales increased by 1.6%. The international share of total sales stood at 67.8% (2015/16: 66.4%).

The reported sales in Western Europe (excl. Germany) increased by 3.6% to €10.5 billion. This is especially due to the acquisition of Pro à Pro. Like-for-like sales decreased slightly by 0.3%.

The reported sales in Eastern Europe increased by 4.5% to €10.3 billion. Especially positive currency effects in Russia influenced this development. Particularly positive sales trends were recorded in Turkey. Sales rose by 1.8% in local currency. Like-for-like sales increased by 2.3%.

The reported sales in Asia increased by 2.3%. All countries contributed to this positive development. Sales rose by as much as 4.2% in local currency. Like-for-like sales climbed by 4.7%.

Sales development of METRO by segments and regions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in % compared with the previous year’s period

 

 

2015/16
€ million

 

2016/17
€ million

 

in group currency (€)

Currency effects in percentage points1

in local currency

Like-for-like sales in local currency

1

The currency effect is calculated by comparing reported sales of the current financial year in euros with sales of the previous period, converted at the average exchange rate of the current financial year.

METRO Wholesale

 

29,000

 

29,866

 

3.0

0.7

2.3

0.9

Real

 

7,478

 

7,247

 

−3.1

0.0

−3.1

−1.0

Others

 

72

 

27

 

−62.4

−0.3

−62.1

METRO

 

36,549

 

37,140

 

1.6

0.5

1.1

0.5

thereof Germany

 

12,279

 

11,962

 

−2.6

0.0

−2.6

−1.7

thereof international

 

24,270

 

25,177

 

3.7

0.8

3.0

1.6

Western Europe (excl. Germany)

 

10,173

 

10,543

 

3.6

0.0

3.6

−0.3

Eastern Europe

 

9,828

 

10,266

 

4.5

2.7

1.8

2.3

Asia

 

4,269

 

4,368

 

2.3

−1.9

4.2

4.7

The reconciliation from reported sales to like-for-like sales in local currency is shown in the following:

€ million

 

2015/16

 

2016/17

1

Sales in local currency of the previous year were calculated by converting reported sales of the previous year at the average exchange rate of the current financial year

2

Not included in the like-for-like panel are, among others, new openings, stores in start-up phase, closures, service companies and major refurbishments.

Total sales in € (as reported)

 

36,549

 

37,140

Total sales in local currency1

 

36,735

 

37,140

Sales of stores that were not part of the like-for-like panel in 2016/172

 

2,356

 

2,584

Like-for-like sales in local currency

 

34,378

 

34,555

Group sales of METRO 2016/17

by regions

Group sales of METRO 2016/17 (pie chart)
Development of group EBIT and EBIT of the segments

 

 

EBIT1

€ million

 

2015/16

2016/17

1

Before special items.

METRO Wholesale

 

1,048

1,114

Real

 

105

80

Others

 

−43

−86

Consolidation

 

−5

−1

METRO

 

1,106

1,106

Previous year
Period of 12 months, usually cited as reference for statements in the annual report.
Glossary
Wholesale, METRO Wholesale
The METRO Wholesale segment comprises the METRO Cash & Carry sales line of METRO AG with more than 750 wholesale markets across 25 countries worldwide. The delivery business (food service distribution) is also part of this segment, with companies like METRO Delivery Service and the delivery specialists Classic Fine Foods, Pro à Pro and Rungis Express.
Glossary
New Operating Model
Organisational and management model at METRO Cash & Carry, which was introduced in 2015. It is supposed to foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the organisation by transferring greater responsibility and creative freedom to the national subsidiaries. At the same time, measures geared towards specific customer groups (for example, for hotels, restaurants and catering firms) are cross-nationally coordinated.
Glossary
HoReCa
Short for hotel, restaurant and catering businesses. The HoReCa sector is a key customer group for METRO Cash & Carry. Due to their strategic focus on HoReCa customers, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Classic Fine Foods have been attributed to the HoReCa cluster since financial year 2015/16. The new HoReCa, Multispecialist and Trader clusters replace the previous reporting regions of Germany, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Glossary
Multispecialist
METRO Cash & Carry countries with a strategic focus on both customers in the HoReCa segment and customers in the Trader and SCO segments have been attributed to the Multispecialist cluster since financial year 2015/16. These include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, India, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The new HoReCa, Multispecialist and Trader clusters replace the previous reporting regions of Germany, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Glossary
Trader
The term “Trader” at METRO Cash & Carry refers to the customer group of independent resellers such as operators of small grocery stores and kiosks, street food vendors, gas stations and wholesalers.

Since financial year 2015/16, the Trader cluster comprises the METRO Cash & Carry countries Moldova, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. The HoReCa, Multispecialist and Trader clusters replace the previous reporting regions of Germany, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia.
Glossary
Wholesale, METRO Wholesale
The METRO Wholesale segment comprises the METRO Cash & Carry sales line of METRO AG with more than 750 wholesale markets across 25 countries worldwide. The delivery business (food service distribution) is also part of this segment, with companies like METRO Delivery Service and the delivery specialists Classic Fine Foods, Pro à Pro and Rungis Express.
Glossary
EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes)
This key figure is used for the international comparison of companies.
Glossary
Special items
Business transactions or a number of uniform business transactions that do not recur regularly, that are reflected in the income statement and that have a significant impact on business activities are classified as special items. As a result, the presentation of special items better reflects ordinary business performance and contributes to a better understanding of the earnings position.
Glossary
EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes)
This key figure is used for the international comparison of companies.
Glossary
Previous year
Period of 12 months, usually cited as reference for statements in the annual report.
Glossary
Special items
Business transactions or a number of uniform business transactions that do not recur regularly, that are reflected in the income statement and that have a significant impact on business activities are classified as special items. As a result, the presentation of special items better reflects ordinary business performance and contributes to a better understanding of the earnings position.
Glossary
Sales line
Part of a retail company that operates stores or markets with a specific sales concept.
Glossary