"Despite tougher market conditions, especially in southern Europe, we succeeded in increasing sales in the fourth quarter," said chief executive Olaf Koch.

"Metro confirms its 2012 forecast for earnings before interest and taxes of around 2 billion euros ($2.6 billion)," he said.

Metro said group sales rose by 0.5 percent to 19.4 billion euros in the period from October to December, bringing the full-year total up by 1.2 percent to 66.7 billion euros.

Last year had been characterised by rising unemployment in Europe and increased austerity measures by governments to curb the sovereign debt crisis, Koch said.

"The resulting consumer reticence had a negative impact on our business development. Taking into account these factors, the sales development was satisfactory, both in the full year and in the fourth quarter," he said.