QINGDAO, China, June 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- METRO Cash & Carry, the world's leading business-to-business wholesaler, today announced the opening of its first Food Service Delivery (FSD) dedicated platform in China, located in Qingdao's Huangdao District. FSD is METRO China's new strategic business channel. It focuses on meeting the professional needs of its core customers, including canteens, caterers, restaurants and hotels (HoReCa), by offering a wide range of quality food assortment at competitive prices, and one-stop state of the art services such as convenient delivery and food processing with the highest standard of quality and food safety.
"The launch of FSD channel will enable us to further enhance our position in HoReCa market. We will continuously optimize products, services and solutions through day to day operation of our FSD platform, and are convinced METRO China has a good role to play in supporting local HoReCa customers to successfully run their businesses," said Mr. Jeroen de Groot, President of METRO China.
The Qingdao FSD platform represents METRO's latest investment in Bohai Bay area, following the wholesaler's second wholesale store opened in Qingdao city in 2012. Qingdao, an international shipping hub, is the leading city in the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone. Situated along the coast, Qingdao has witnessed rapid growth of its tourism industry in recent years, fueling the booming catering and hotel industries, and driving demand for high-quality food products and professional services.
METRO FSD - seven unique advantages fulfilling customer needs
Faced with ever-changing consumer needs, restaurants, caterers and hotels must respond quickly to market trends and constantly adjust products and services to win their customers' heart and confidence. In response to this need, the FSD model features a team of experienced METRO professionals capable of creating tailor-made solutions to satisfy HoReCa customers' requirements.
METRO FSD model is fully-equipped to fulfill the core demands of HoReCa customers through unique advantages. The METRO FSD platform offers a full range of HoReCa oriented products across multiple categories, with continuous availability of 'core' HoReCa assortment. Customers can find market leading brands, imported brands and excellent exclusive-brands products at unbeatable prices.
METRO's leading traceability system covers every process step from farm to market: customers can place their orders with confidence at METRO FSD platform. The internal processes, storage and logistics are in compliance with the international quality systems to make sure the food products arrive at customers' doors with full safety assurance. With easy and quick ordering process, all orders can be placed through call center, fax, and e-mail or online, saving customers' time and efforts. Reliable, on time delivery fulfills high service standards. Meanwhile, METRO customer managers designated for one-on-one consultations provide important information and added-value solutions tailored to customers' business needs, helping them achieve business success.
Continuous innovation to solidify industry leading position
Since entering the Chinese market 18 years ago, METRO has become the leader in the canteen industry. Focused on HoReCa customer groups, METRO's new FSD channel will complement its existing business in China, further solidifying its industry leading position. Based on the results of its Qingdao FSD store, METRO plans to gradually roll out the FSD model nationwide in the future.
