More buying independence

The import office of Praktiker AG started work in Hong Kong at the beginning of July after a setting-up phase of about 15 months. It functions as a procurement organisation trading under the name of Praktiker Group Buying HK Ltd (PGB) and is taking on the sourcing of goods specifically from East Asia and other non-European countries as an independent purchasing agency. In the past responsibility for sourcing goods from East Asia for the entire Praktiker Group lay with Metro Group Buying (MGB), also based in Hong Kong, but the service contract with MGB has been terminated to 31 December 2011. Praktiker Group Buying HK Ltd is starting out with some 30 employees, though there should be around 70 when the final organisational stage is reached. Bernd Reissenweber, 55, is managing director and head of the import office. He previously worked for several years in Hong Kong as buying director of MGB.