METRO sells Belgian property portfolio to LCV Invest NV and its partner Colruyt Group Real Estate

31 January 2025Download

Exit from the Belgian market completed – Sustainable development of locations – METRO focuses on the implementation of its wholesale strategy sCore

METRO AG has successfully sold the Belgian real estate portfolio consisting of five former METRO and six former MAKRO wholesale stores to LCV Invest NV and its partner Colruyt Group Real Estate as part of a share deal. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the transaction. The transaction is expected to close by the end of February 2025. METRO has already divested its operating business in Belgium in 2022.

The five former METRO stores are secured by leases for their current use. In the run-up to the transaction, METRO PROPERTIES, the real estate company of METRO AG, developed alternative use concepts for the six former MAKRO locations to ensure a long-term and sustainable development of the locations. The aim is to transform the sites into future-proof, functional and urban spaces that meet the individual needs of each region.

‘We are pleased to have found in LCV Invest NV and its partner Colruyt Group Real Estate a reliable and experienced property developer who recognises the potential of the former METRO/MAKRO sites. We are convinced that the surrounding communities will benefit sustainably from the development and densification of the sites', says Jürgen Schwarze, CEO METRO PROPERTIES.

METRO AG sold its Belgian business in 2022. The real estate portfolio initially remained with METRO AG. With the sale of the Belgian real estate, METRO ends its involvement in Belgium and marks a further step in its strategic focus on the sCore wholesale strategy.



METRO is a leading international food wholesaler which specialises in serving the needs of hotels, restaurants, and caterers (HoReCa) as well as independent resellers (Traders). Around the world, METRO has approx. 15 million customers who benefit from the wholesale company’s unique multichannel mix: customers can purchase their goods in one of the large stores in their area as well as by delivery (Food Service Distribution, FSD) – all digitally supported and connected. In parallel, METRO MARKETS is being developed as an international online marketplace for the needs of professional customers which has been growing and expanding continuously since 2019. Acting sustainably is one of the company principles of METRO which has been listed in various sustainability indices and rankings, including MSCI, Sustainalytics and CDP. METRO operates in more than 30 countries and employs over 85,000 people worldwide. In financial year 2023/24, METRO generated sales of €31 billion. More information can be found at MPULSE.de, our online magazine.

METRO PROPERTIES is the real estate company of METRO AG, a leading international food wholesaler with more than 85,000 employees worldwide and operations in over 30 countries. The real estate company focuses on activities with strategic relevance for METRO's wholesale business and the implementation of METRO's growth strategy sCore. This includes the development of intelligent solutions in the field of Food Service Distribution (FSD), the acquisition of future-oriented locations and innovative energy management. Another focus is the implementation of urban, high-quality project and district developments with attractive gastronomy and hospitality concepts. METRO PROPERTIES works with local communities, business partners and selected investors to develop innovative and sustainable concepts for wholesale and mixed-use models. Both nationally and internationally, METRO PROPERTIES pursues an active and value-adding property management policy.