皇冠体育app

Having done business in 皇冠体育app for more than 16 years, Metro 皇冠体育app has gradually realized that significant synergies can be generated from the retailing sector. Hoelzer said that its retailing business can contribute almost 50 percent to Metro's 皇冠体育app sales.

"Both (B2B and B2C) businesses bring us a lot of synergies. We could not survive without any one of them," said Hoelzer.

"The sales revenue generated from the retail business might be the main driver for the company to seek rapid expansion in 皇冠体育app," said Peng Jianzhen, deputy secretary-general of 皇冠体育app Chain Store & Franchise Association.

In addition, experts said opening 12 stores in one year is not that uncommon in the fast-growing Chinese market.

"Metro's expansion in 皇冠体育app was not fast in the past decade compared to many international giants, so opening 12 stores is quite normal," said Peng.

Metro has 63 stores in 45 cities across the country. In contrast, Walmart has opened more than 260 stores in 皇冠体育app since 1996.