Germany news 

Germany-based Metro has ended its 2019/20 financial year on a positive trajectory after a challenging year that saw its major markets and customers impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive Q4 sees Metro gain market share In its full year, Metro reported like-for-like sales contracted by 3.9%, which was at the upper end of its guidance range. The company said that ‘ with the excep...

Aldi Süd plans to introduce new bakery counters in 1,000 stores in Germany by Spring 2021 to improve quality and freshness perception. Whilst most products will be baked directly in-store, the discounter will also expand its partnerships with regional bakeries. Replacing the vending machines with qualitative counters Aldi Süd’s famous bread vending machines are about to become a thing of th...

Schwarz Group, Lidl and Kaufland parent’s company, is set to launch smart cloud solutions in early 2021. Lidl is reorganizing its IT and digital divisions to focus on the digital transformation of its stores, while the recent acquisition of the real.de marketplace will accelerate Kaufland’s omnichannel transformation. Smart cloud solutions made in Europe Schwarz Group will launch clou...

As Metro Cash & Carry establishes a transition team as its chief executive prepares to step down at the end of the year and launches a new service, we round up news from the retailer. Metro establishes CEO transition team During the transition period after existing CEO, Olaf Koch, leaves, Metro has confirmed that its CFO, Christian Baier, and COO, Rafael Gasset, will jointly assume the posi...

(Last updated 26/11/2020) As Western European countries are facing a second wave of COVID-19 infections, several governments are implementing stricter restrictions including second national lockdowns. Here is an update of the latest announcements across the region Germany Latest ( update 26/11/2020) : Lockdown to be extended until at lest 20 December, with non-essential busines...

 DM reported a 2.9% increase in total group sales to €11.5bn for FY2019/20. Slower growth in Germany, but investment continues The drugstore operator reported 2.1% sales increase in Germany, reaching €8.54bn for the FY2019/20. Passing reductions in VAT to shoppers had a dampening effect on value sales, which dm estimates would have been c.3% without this impact. This compares with a 3.2% in...

On October 31 st , Aldi Süd opened a 2,000 sq. m. store near its global headquarters in Germany. This is the group’s largest store in the world. In this article, we consider what can we learn from this unusually large store format for the discounter Expansion of an already large store The renovation works added 300 sq m to the existing store in Mulheim an der Ruhr. This created a new total ...

Metro generated like-for-like sales showing a slight contraction, of just 0.5%, in its fourth quarter. The company said a recovery in HoReCa sales and a ‘ positive sales development ’ in Germany, Russia and Eastern Europe had underpinned its improving performance. Strong recovery in key markets Metro said like-for-like sales had turned positive in Germany, Russia, and Eastern Europe, which ...

In recent years Aldi Nord’s group sales have grown at around 2%, one of the slowest rates in the discount channel globally. The AniKo concept, launched in 2016, was expected to drive a recovery in growth and has required billions to be invested to upgrade the store network. However, the slow pace to add new and more varied products to the assortment, the growing competition and pricing pressures ...

As Rewe Group commits to cutting greenhouse emissions, announces plans to exit Ukraine and appoints a new member to its International board, we round up news from the retailer. Rewe Group looks to cut greenhouse emissions linked to its private labels The retailer is aiming for a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across its Rewe and Penny private label supply chains. It is looking to...