
Major supermarket chains Carrefour and Tesco both decided to give up on Japan but the world's 3rd largest retail company, Germany's Metro Group, wants to build its brand. Metro actually opened in Tokyo in 2002 but is little known among the general public. They operate mainly as a wholesale business, supplying the restaurant industry through nine members-only Cash & Carry stores in the Kanto region. The nearest one to the centre of Tokyo is the Koto ward store which is a 15-20 minute walk away from Tatsumi Station on the Yurakucho line. Sales in Japan last year reached 200 million euros which was an increase of 34% from the 2009. Metro now wants to build its profile and plans to set up a showroom in Ginza this week to display a range of private brand goods. The company chose Ginza because it close to Tsukiji which already attracts buyers from the restaurant trade.