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WE ARE CONQUERING THE MARKET
Militzer & Münch arrives in Serbia
FILIP SIMOVIĆ CEO of Militzer & Münch A t the end of last year, the logistics market heard the news that the German company Militzer & Münch launched its operations in Serbia. Specifically, the Militzer & Münch Group has launched a joint venture with the Serbian logistics company Invictus. Both partners plan to turn the joint venture into a leading logistics company in Serbia in the coming years. Filip Simović, CEO of Militzer & Münch, talks about what the company is offering to the market and further plans for the region. Mr Simović studied in German and who gained his professional knowledge in Austria and Germany.
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Could you tell us more about Militzer & Münch? — The company was founded back in 1880 and has headquarters in Hof, Germany. Today, we can proudly say that we have decades of experience in the field of transportation and logistics, with over 2,100 employees in more than 100 locations in 27 countries, one of which is Serbia. The Militzer & Münch Group is an integral part of the TransInvest Group. Otherwise, TransInvest is an international group with several independent holding companies which operate under the auspices of the TransInvest Group, headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland. In the Balkans, Militzer & Münch has been doing business in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania so far.
The Militzer & Münch Group has launched a joint venture with the Serbian logistics company Invictus. How did this collaboration come about? — In Germany, the company wanted to launch a business in our market and from here, further expand across the Balkans. Serbia is an impor tant bridge to the EU, and it also has great geostrategic importance in regard to the new Silk Road. These facts helped us to reach a quick and easy agreement with our German partners. The company was founded in October last year. The talks lasted about a month, during which period we agreed on the particulars and the conditions of the entire deal. Under this agreement, Militzer & Münch owns 51% of the company in Serbia, and our company, Invictus, 49%.
What are your plans for the Serbian market? — Many clients who have worked with our company saw for themselves the quality and professionalism we offer. We are working hard on developing the domestic market, but we are also actively expanding our network in the Balkans. As far as this region is concerned, we focus on all customs countries that are not part of the European Un
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ion, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania. We want our headquarters to cover them all. Militzer & Münch has a quite strong market position in Bulgaria and Greece and it is up to us to develop our business in these other Balkan countries. In Serbia, we will primarily focus on road transport. Some of our long-term goals include increasing our profits and the number of employees to 120 in several years.
What sets your company apart from the competition? What logistics services do you offer? — Our services consist mainly of export, import and customs clearance. In the near future, we will expand our portfolio by adding air and sea transportation, warehousing, intermodal traffic, distribution and home delivery. Our goal is to develop the company in the next two years to become the leading logistics company in Serbia. In terms of service, I would like to single out that Militzer & Münch has a lot of hubs across Germany. Bearing this and a large number of German investments in Serbia in mind, companies in this area are important clients to us.
Our portfolio also includes a large number of trucking companies that work exclusively with us. What sets us apart from our competition is the prices, short delivery terms and the fact that we approach each inquiry with a carefully formed offer.
What are some of the challenges you faced when starting a business and what is your main asset? — The fact that we are new to the market poses a challenge for us and we are still looked upon with a dose of distrust. This is the reason why we have been working on our brand. Our trump card is a team of people who have many years of experience in logistics. This is the most important thing. We like to say that we are not working with companies but with people.
15 Years of Support to the LOCAL ECONOMY
2020 marks the 15th anniversary of METRO Cash & Carry business in Serbia. Over the last decade and a half in this country and more than 55 years worldwide, the global wholesale specialist has helped independent traders and HoReCa professionals nurture and develop their entrepreneurial spirit
With decades of experience in various markets around Europe and Asia and 15 years in Serbia, a vast food and nonfood range of more than 25.000 products, a team of dedicated professionals always ready to provide expertise and knowledge to our customers, delivery service and digital innovations that make customers' everyday operations seamless – METRO Cash & Carry is proud to be a reliable partner and a one-stop-shop for HoReCa professionals and independent traders.
Last year, on a global level, the German company recorded the strongest wholesale business growth in a decade. Results in Serbia followed stable trends as well. "METRO Cash & Carry remains committed to the Serbian market which provides a lot of opportunities for further development and growth, given our new momentum and re-established focus on pure wholesale. We will also continue to focus our business on products and services (e.g. Food service delivery) that cater to the needs of our core target groups, offering them the best possible quality assortment and thus helping them grow successful businesses of their own", says André Rinnensland, CEO of METRO Cash & Carry Serbia.
As a company with a sound instinct for what its customers – HoReCa sector and Traders – really need, METRO remains dedicated to providing superb customer experience, high-quality tailored product assortments, effective sales channels and delivery model, but also services such as advanced training support which will make small businesses more successful.
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Knowing that any local economy is only as strong as its entrepreneurs, METRO Cash & Carry has focused on promoting the importance of small independent family businesses, and providing them advice and strategic support in order to strengthen their position. "What we've seen in the Serbian market over the last 15 years is a dynamic development of the hospitality sector with even more potential for further growth", says Rinnensland, adding that METRO Cash & Carry remains
firmly dedicated to maintaining its position as THE partner of choice for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs from the HoReCa sector. "METRO is basing its success on the long-term loyalty of our customers, which comes from our ability to anticipate their needs and offer solutions that make their businesses more adaptable, competitive and sustainable", says the METRO Cash & Carry Serbia CEO.
Sustainability is deeply incorporated in all aspects of METRO’s business operations and is strongly rooted in the company’s corporate strategy and working culture. All METRO supplier s must meet high quality requirements and respect environmental and social standards with the primary goal of increasing transparency and sustainability throughout the supply chain. "Equally important, as an employer, METRO Cash & Carry is dedicated to ensuring ethical and fair working conditions, authentic leadership and employees' development", underlines Rinnensland, adding that the c ompany is also highly engaged in dialogue and activities related to a wide range of important economic and social issues such as fighting the grey economy, supporting further development of entrepreneurship, youth employment, food waste and supporting vulnerable social groups.
