German wholesaler Metro still doing business in Russia, Ukraine (updated)

Metro AG

02/03/2022 11:02

(Adds details)
    BERLIN, March 2 (Reuters) - German wholesaler Metro  B4B.DE 
is still operating in Russia and Ukraine, with its Russian arm
paying salaries and suppliers via international banks not
affected by sanctions imposed since the invasion of Ukraine, it
said on Wednesday.
    Metro said the majority of products on its shelves were
ordered in Russia and it did not currently see any shortages.
    The company feels responsible for its more than 10,000
employees in Russia, a spokesperson said, adding: "These people
have no personal responsibility for the aggression against
Ukraine."
    Metro also said 21 of its 26 stores in Ukraine were open and
it was very concerned about its 3,400 employees there, as well
as their families, its customers, suppliers and business
partners.
    It added none of its employees had been injured in the
conflict and it had evacuated employees and their families from
its store in Mariupol on the border with Russia, which was
closed due to security reasons.
    Metro, which has 93 stores in Russia, saw sales in the
country rise 18% in the first quarter of its 2021/22 fiscal year
to 798 million euros ($884 million), more than 10% of its total.
    ($1 = 0.9029 euros)

 (Reporting by Matthias Inverardi
Writing by Emma Thomasson  Editing by Maria Sheahan and Mark
Potter)
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