El Corte Inglés is said to be interested in a possible investment in Kaufhof. The Spanish and German department store chains are both deeply involved in the sporting goods sector, and the Spanish one is looking for expansion opportunities outside its home market, where it already has a dominant position. Owned by Metro, which wants to concentrate on its more profitable cash & carry business, Kaufhof operates 139 department stores in Germany and controls the Belgian Inno chain. The report about the discussions between the two groups, carried by the German Lebensmittelzeitung, originated from a visit to a Kaufhof store in Munich by Eckhard Cordes, president of Metro, and members of El Corte Inglés' management.

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