METRO Italia, the trusted partner of Horeca professionals, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its historic San Donato Milanese store yesterday with a full day of festivities. The event began with a toast and cake-cutting ceremony dedicated to employees of the store and the headquarters, and concluded in the evening with an exclusive dinner for staff, clients, local institutions, and journalists.
The gala dinner featured a special collaboration between the Nazionale Italiana Cuochi and the METRO Academy chefs, who together created a four-hands menu designed to honor Italian culinary artistry.
Inaugurated on October 13, 1975, the San Donato Milanese store was among the very first METRO outlets opened in Italy. Over the decades, it has become a landmark for restaurant and hospitality professionals not only in Milan but across the region.
“Celebrating our San Donato Milanese store after 50 years is a tangible testimony of METRO’s commitment to standing alongside Horeca professionals,” said David Martínez Fontano, CEO of METRO Italia. “Being the best partner for the Horeca industry means listening to our customers’ needs, evolving with them, and offering the right solutions. I am very pleased to have celebrated this important milestone together with representatives of the San Donato Milanese administration, which demonstrates how deeply rooted our store is in this territory,” Martínez Fontano concluded.
With a surface area of over 8,300 square meters, more than 100 employees, 14,000 product references, and around 21,000 clients served, the San Donato store stands as a powerful showcase for local producers. Among its aisles, customers can find over 260 local items from more than 60 Lombard companies.
Supporting Italian localism remains one of METRO’s strategic priorities nationwide. Across Italy, METRO offers more than 7,000 local products from over 700 regional suppliers, strengthening the link between local production and professional hospitality.
The store’s focus on quality and service excellence continues to yield strong results. In fiscal year 2025, the San Donato Milanese outlet recorded higher sales than the previous year, underscoring its role as a benchmark of reliability and innovation in the Italian Horeca sector.