Sustainable food market: Eversheds Sutherland supports Mercato Metropolitano in its German market entry

Eversheds Sutherland advises the British company Mercato Metropolitano, operator of the first “Sustainable Community Market” in London, on the preparation of its market entry in Germany.

Mercato Metropolitano operates food markets in unconventional locations to bring together natural, wholesome and sustainable and unadulterated food with a focus on quality products, artisan producers and the local community. Its sustainable community markets support vulnerable members of local communi¬ties, provide incubation to young start-ups and serve fresh, nutritious and responsibly sourced food to millions of people each year. After successfully open¬ing and managing community food markets in London, Mercato Metropolitano has now a healthy expansion pipeline in several countries, including Germany, where it is being supported by Eversheds Sutherland.

Mercato Metropolitano is set to open its first food market in Germany in the heart of Berlin. The company is expected to open its innovative concept in 2022 at the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, a large retail centre, on an area of approx. 4500 sqm. The Arkaden centre is currently being redesigned into an authentic commu¬nity retail destination.

Mercato Metropolitano was founded in 2016 and is the first sustainable commu¬nity market in London focused on revitalizing neighbourhoods and protecting the environment. The market has incubated more than 40 food and beverage busi-nesses, a delicatessen with sustainably sourced products from local farmers and artisans, a unique cinema experience, a communal kitchen and several circular economy concepts including a Bavarian micro-brewery, a hydroponics farm, and a mushroom garden from spent coffee grounds. In its two sites in London, Mercato Metropolitano attracts up to 80,000 people a week. The Mercato Metro-politano ethos and business model is becoming a global movement to tackle some of the world’s biggest societal issues, from food security to climate change, by involving urban dwellers and show that they can support their local and rural communities, while simultaneously protecting the environment through their food consumption.

The Eversheds Sutherland team consisting of the partners Dr. Gerhard Molt (leading, Real Estate) and Holger Holle (Corporate) as well as the associates Laura Mayr, Benjamin Blum (both Real Estate) and Marie Brodbeck (Corporate, all Munich) supports Mercato Metropolitano in all relevant legal questions in the context of the market entry and the further establishment and expansion of the business.