Makro

Makro is an international brand of Warehouse clubs, also called cash and carries. Originally a Dutch-based chain, the first one opened in Amsterdam in 1968. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other European countries and, in 1971, South Africa. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and Asia. Makro had also expanded to the United States in the mid-1980s. In 1989, Kmart bought the American locations, and converted most of them to Pace Warehouse in 1990. In 1998, Makro owner SHV Holdings sold the Makro stores in Europe to Metro AG.

Makro stores are not open to the general public (except in Belgium, Brazil and South Africa), but only to businesses which have to be registered members in order to gain entry to the store.

Ownership

SHV originated in 1896 from a merger between a number of large coal mining companies, some of which had been active since the 18th century.

In 1968, The first Makro store opened in Amsterdam.

In 1971, The first Makro store outside Europe opened in South Africa (the South African stores were subsequently in 1990 exchanged for a shareholding in Massmart and in 2004 SHV sold its Massmart shares).