International News - Non-domestic sales bolster Metro Group

Metro celebrated a 'really successful start' over the first three months of this year, after a sales leap outside its home market.

Non-German sales, 46.9 per cent of the group total, climbed 10.7 per cent to EUR6 billion (£4.1 billion) in the first quarter, with continued expansion in Eastern Europe.

Total sales, including currency effects, increased by 6.1 per cent to EUR12.87 billion (£8.68 billion), held back by a weak sales increase of 2.3 per cent in Germany.

Metro Group chief exec-utive officer Dr Hans-Joachim Korber said: 'In an ongoing difficult environment, we succeeded in accelerating growth.'