Makro, the European wholesale chain known for its restrictive entry policies, is poised for some major changes under new ownership. The company, part of the German-based Metro AG group, has been fully acquired by a consortium led by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský, who also owns Czech e-shop Košík.
The new owners are considering ending the requirement that customers must hold a business license to enter Makro stores. They are also reviewing the longstanding ban on children in the stores. The moves could signal a shift toward broader retail access in a business model historically focused on professionals and bulk buyers.
From exclusive wholesale to broader access
Unlike American wholesale chains like Costco or BJ’s Wholesale Club, which offer individual memberships for a fee, Makro has traditionally limited access to business customers who register using an official company ID number (IČO) in the Czech Republic.
This practice, along with a strict “no children allowed” rule, has kept the chain focused on professional buyers: mainly small business operators including chefs and restaurant owners. In other European countries, however, the chain has more lax admission policies.
In Czechia, too, those barriers may soon be removed. Roman Šilha, a key figure in the acquisition and now chair of the supervisory board at Metro AG, confirmed that the company is considering opening its doors to the general public.
“I have three small children myself and would change it immediately,” Šilha tells Seznam Zprávy. “In Germany, many of my colleagues shop at Metro with their kids. I want to understand why we can’t do the same here.”
The possible shift comes amid a broader strategy to modernize and streamline Metro’s operations across Europe, especially in its home market of Germany.
With the Czech Republic seen as a growth opportunity, Makro may become the testing ground for a more open, hybrid retail model that blends the bulk-sale logic of wholesale with the convenience and flexibility of mainstream grocery shopping.
New ownership, new direction
The change in tone is tied directly to Makro’s new ownership. After years of gradual stock acquisition, Křetínský’s EP Group and its partners now hold a controlling stake of over 90 percent in Metro AG, which includes operations in 21 countries. Metro was delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange earlier this year, effectively bringing the company under full private control.
Křetínský, one of the wealthiest individuals in Czechia, is known for acquiring undervalued or “stressed” assets—companies facing challenges but with long-term potential. His business empire has grown far beyond its roots in the energy sector to include assets like the British postal service Royal Mail and a minority stake in ThyssenKrupp steelworks.
Under EP Group’s direction, Makro is expected to simplify its store operations, reduce administrative layers, and expand its focus on food and gastronomy, including investment in private-label goods.
Part of that strategy includes boosting online sales through a closer integration with Košík, a Czech grocery delivery service already partially owned by Metro. The two platforms are being linked in key regions, allowing Košík to deliver Makro’s inventory directly to customers.
According to Šilha, the Czech market is a priority. While Metro is expected to close underperforming stores in Germany, the company is considering opening one or two new Makro locations in Czechia.
“We have 13 stores here,” Šilha said. “We’re discussing whether to add another one or two in the next three to five years.”