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Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In Germany

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Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In Germany

Germany, as the economic powerhouse of Europe, naturally hosts some of the continent's largest retailers. Major players like Edeka, REWE, and, notably, discounters Aldi and Lidl, command annual turnovers in the tens of billions of euros.

Consumer sentiment in Germany showed signs of recovery over the course of 2023, before declining again in November 2023, according to the recent German Trade Association (HDE) consumption barometer.

The decline in the consumption barometer was the first since October 2022, and indicates that consumers are more likely to save money, rather than spend, given their current financial situation.

Elsewhere, a separate report from GfK found that consumer sentiment remains at a very low level – at minus 27.8 points heading into December from a revised minus 28.3 the month before – which while more stable than earlier in the year, still indicates that the mood is "characterised by uncertainty and concern," according to Rolf Buerkl, consumption expert at the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM).

Inflation was certainly stabilising as 2024 drew to a close, with an inflation rate of 3.2% recorded in November 2023, according to Destatis, the official statistics office. According to provisional figures, food prices remain elevated, at 5.5% higher than in the same period last year, although energy prices have eased – in November, they were 4.5% lower, year-on-year (compared to a -3.2% decline in October 2023).

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Retailers in Germany were looking forward to additional sales of just over a billion euros over the Christmas period, the German Trade Association (HDE) noted in November, with food spend expected to account for around a fifth (19.6%) of spend.

Here's an overview of the top ten supermarket retail chains in Germany, according to their most recently-available full-year turnover. All data is supplied by Retail-Index.

***EXCLUSIVE OFFER*** Gain access to Retail-Index.com with a limited discount of 10% – use the code ESM10 in the remarks section on the Price & Order form.

1. Edeka
Turnover: €62.7 billion (2021)

With a turnover of €62.7 billion in 2021, Edeka is the largest supermarket retail chain in Germany. Edeka operates several banners, including Edeka, Marktkauf, Netto, NP Niedrig-Preis, Diska and SPAR Express. Edeka has a network of 11,126 stores (estimated) across the country as of this year. Edeka was founded back in 1898.

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Read More: Edeka Reduces Prices Of 1,300 Products This Year

2. Lidl & Kaufland
Turnover: €48.4 billion (2021)

Lidl and Kaufland, both part of Germany's Schwarz Group, ranks second with a turnover of €48.4 billion in 2021. Combined, the two retailers operate 3,992 stores across Germany, with Lidl having 3,242 outlets and Kaufland boasting 750 stores. Lidl recently marked its 50th anniversary in Germany.

Read More: Lidl And Kaufland Parent Schwarz Group Announces Management Changes

3. REWE
Turnover: €33.94 billion (estimated, 2021)

With an estimated turnover of €33.94 billion (as of 2021), REWE operates several banners, including nahkauf, Penny, REWE (Partners), REWE Ihr Kaufpark, REWE, REWE City, REWE Center, and REWE To Go. REWE has a network of 6,725 stores in Germany, of which 2,150 are Penny outlets.

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Read More: REWE Group To Raise Wages

4. Aldi
Turnover: €30.25 billion (2021)

Discounter Aldi (incorporating both Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd) reported a turnover of €30.25 billion in 2021, putting it in fourth place on the list. It operates 4,186 stores across Germany. The Aldi business dates back more than a century, having been founded in 1913.

Read More: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Aldi Süd

5. Lekkerland
Turnover: €8.2 billion (2020)

Lekkerland is a wholesale and retail company that operates in several European countries. In Germany, Lekkerland has a turnover of €8.2 billion and operates 51,300 stores, making it the market leader in terms of store count. As of 2019, Lekkerland has been part of REWE Group.

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Read More: Aral, Lekkerland Extend Partnership Until 2028

6. Bela
Turnover: €5.1 billion (2021)

Bela, also known as Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft, operates several banners, including Bela C&C, Famila, Markant, and Steiskal. The company has a turnover of €5.1 billion and operates 201 stores across Germany, including 100 Familia stores.

7. Metro Cash & Carry
Turnover: €4.7 billion (2021)

With a heritage dating back to 1964, wholesale giant Metro Cash & Carry boasted a turnover of €4.7 billion (as of 2021) and operates 103 stores in Germany (as of 2022).

Read More: Metro To Invest €18m In Remodelling Its Düsseldorf Campus

8. Norma
Turnover: €4 billion (estimated, 2021)

Discounter Norma has a portfolio of more than 1,450 stores across Germany and reported an estimated turnover of €4 billion in 2021. The retailer also boasts a presence in France, Austria and the Czech Republic.

9. Globus
Turnover: €1.97 billion (estimated, 2020)

Globus is a hypermarket chain with a presence in several European countries, including Czechia, Luxembourg and Russia. In Germany, the retailer boasts a turnover of €1.97 billion as of 2020, and operates 61 stores (2023).

Read More: Globus Sees Sales Up Double Digits In Full Year

10. Bünting
Turnover: €1.71 billion (2021)

Bünting operates several banners, including Combi, Markant, and Minipreis. The company reported a turnover of €1.71 billion in 2021, and operates 267 stores across Germany. Bünting has a longstanding history in Germany, with the company dating back as far as 1806.

Of course, this list only scratches the surface, with the German supermarket sector awash with both national and regional banners. Ranking just outside the top ten are retailers including Hit Handelsgruppe, Tegut, Netto, Alnatura, V-Markt, K+K, Wasgau, Denn's Biomarkt and Lüning. Check www.retail-index.com for a full overview of Germany's supermarket landscape.

About Retail-Index

Retail-Index is a specialist supplier of management information on consumer retail markets, provided by Veraart Research Group in the Netherlands. Its mission is to supply managers with up-to-date key information on retail markets in Europe and support them in their international expansion.

The company dates back to 1964, when it started as a market research and marketing consulting company for consumer products and services. In 1989, it started publishing written reports on various retail sectors in Europe. As of 2005, it publishes its information on retailers through the online database and curated datasheet exports available on www.retail-index.com. A team of researchers manages the data to reflect upon current developments in the markets, collected from an extensive number of sources.

Read More: Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In Austria

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Read More: Top 10 Supermarket Retail Chains In France

Read More: Most Valuable Brands In Germany Revealed: Kantar

© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.

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