Metro is 'World's Largest Global Newspaper'

LUXEMBOURG: It's official. Metro, the flagship title of Metro International, has been declared the 'World's Largest Global Newspaper' by no less an authority than Guinness World Records.

According to the Metro website, the free daily is the largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. Seventy daily Metro editions are published in over 100 major cities in 21 countries in 19 languages across Europe, North & South America and Asia.

The first Metro newspaper was published in Stockholm in 1995. There are 58 editions in Europe and international launches this year include Bohemia, Moravia, Castellon, Canary Islands, the Basque country, Mexico City and Croatia.

Shares in the Luxembourg-headquartered company are traded on the Stockholm Stock Exchange but despite continuing growth over eleven years, it has yet to emerge from the red. Net debt as at September 30 stood at $19.2 million (€14.92m; £10.04m).

Nonetheless, Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday was in laudatory mode: "[We are] pleased to recognise Metro newspapers as a new member of our record-breaking family. We congratulate them on this remarkable achievement in setting the record for the Largest Global Newspaper on 8 November 2006, in celebration of Global Record Breakers Day."

Data sourced from mandmeurope.com; additional content by WARC staff, 14 November 2006

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