Working with METRO: Quality, Sustainability & Compliance for Long-Term Success

The Global Business for Ukraine, together with the European Business Association and METRO AG, conducted a webinar “Working with METRO: Quality, Sustainability & Compliance for Long-Term Success” on October 9. The event brought together potential suppliers interested in cooperation with METRO. 

During the webinar, participants learned about opportunities for Ukrainian suppliers to enter international markets in cooperation with METRO. The discussion covered key product categories currently in focus, the characteristics of a suitable supplier, as well as social compliance standards, quality requirements, product assortment, and the role of representative offices in EU. 

This webinar was part of the unique B2B matching initiative – EuroConnect – launched in 2023 by GB4U, the EBA, and METRO AG. The project aims to strengthen cooperation between companies from Ukraine and the EU, enabling suppliers of food and non-food products to engage in dialogue with METRO, one of the leading international food wholesalers. 

In 2023–2025, within the EuroConnect framework, 26 Ukrainian suppliers have already applied for participation in METRO tenders. 

All eligible suppliers are invited to apply for potential cooperation with METRO.  

General requirements for a supplier (food, non-food, near-food) are as follows: 

• Products must be suitable for HoReCa

• Suppliers should be willing to produce under METRO’s own brands

• Products must meet EU requirements, i.e. on quality, safety, and Supply Chain aspects

• Suppliers should have a valid social compliance certificate, e.g. amfori BSCI or an equivalent social standard, or at least must pass a self-assessment questionnaire on social compliance provided by METRO as a (3-yr) stepping stone towards certification

• No pre-payment before delivery of goods 

For Food Suppliers: 

• Products should have an IFS or BRC certificate

• Suppliers must have a representative office in an EU country

• Suppliers should have export experience in the EU

• Suppliers should have previous experience working with multinational companies 

For Non-Food and Near-Food Suppliers: 

• Suppliers should have a valid ISO 9001:2015 certificate or be willing to pass an internal METRO certification

• Suppliers should be able to organize the transport of deliveries themselves 

If your business meets the above-mentioned criteria, please fill out the application form below. 

Please be aware that meeting ALL of the above requirements is a necessary step to be considered for further evaluation, but it does not guarantee automatic selection for moving forward. If you are selected after the first screening, further checks take place together with METRO AG and its daughter companies to see if there is a match. The application form itself doesn’t mean selection.  

LINKS TO APPLICATION FORMS: 

• FOR FOOD SUPPLIERS 

• FOR NON-FOOD SUPPLIERS  

All application forms will be thoroughly revised, and preselected eligible suppliers will be invited to meetings with METRO procurement team for presenting their businesses and products. Further details on the next steps will be provided separately to the short-listed candidates.   

We sincerely hope this initiative will enhance the export potential of Ukrainian producers and strengthen the EU-Ukraine partnership!