Germany news 

I assess the news from across the discounter’s European markets. Slowing down of network growth continues France has become the latest market where Lidl has announced plans to reduce the number of store openings, with only 10 new stores this year. The discounter had been opening between 20 and 30 stores per year and was gaining momentum in the challenging market, but in recent months it has...

With meat consumption on the decline, I look at plant-based developments in Germany. Steady decline in consumption continues Meat consumption in the German market has been falling for several years and 2022 saw record lows. The Federal Statistics Office reporting a decline in slaughterhouse production of 5.9% in the first half of 2023, showing the decline in consumption will continue. Re...

The German retailer continues to innovate, trialling drone deliveries in rural Hessen Plugging gaps in the supply of everyday staples The project, called LieferMichel, launched on 5 th October 2023. With initiatives of this kind, the main goal is to make daily necessities accessible to more people living in rural areas. This is not a first for REWE – earlier this year it launched a superma...

Aldi Nord and Lidl are both testing Scan & Go in the Netherlands. Following my visit to their stores, I assess the solutions implemented by the two discounters. The Scan & Go solutions Aldi Aldi has opted to collaborate with Austrian based self-scan experts Shopreme to produce its Scan & Go solution. It is an app-based system, so shoppers need to download the app and register before th...

The Dutch market leader announces it is joining the Eurelec alliance from 2025. Price differences to be addressed Ahold Delhaize will join France’s E.Leclerc and Germany’s REWE as part of the Eurelec retail alliance. The alliance will act as a joint sourcing venture between the three retailers for the purchasing of international FMCG’s. Through joining the alliance Ahold Delhaize hopes t...

The Dutch retailer has announced its intention to join the Epic Partners and Everest alliances from 2024. Jumbo to improve its purchasing power To improve its negotiating power with A-brand suppliers, Jumbo will join the Epic Partners and Everest retail alliances in 2024. The alliances were both set up by German market leader Edeka in 2021 when it left the Age Core alliance. Epic Partner...

Aldi Sud has made its first online delivery service available to shoppers after an employee only pilot. Pilot extended for shoppers to register Aldi shoppers in the Mülheim an der Ruhr, Duisburg and Oberhausen areas of Germany can now benefit from the discounter’s home delivery service. The Mein Aldi site and app have gone live, allowing shoppers to register their interest to be part of ...

In Düsseldorf, Aldi Sud has teamed up with parking reservation app ampido to offer overnight parking. We also look at other external to store revenue streams German retailers are using. Meeting the demand in urban areas An Aldi Sud store in Düsseldorf is piloting a new overnight parking scheme, allowing access for local residents who may struggle to park on the crowded streets nearby. Dr...

Reports from Germany suggest that Lidl has started to introduce a simplified store design model to its network. Reminder to shoppers of discounter status Recent store refurbishments in Germany have seen Lidl reintroduce a more discount look and feel to stores. Categories that had previously been elevated, such as fresh fruit & vegetables, health & beauty and wines, now have a basic design a...

Lower fixed prices are being offered in selected European markets by Lidl. We also look at recent developments in the region from the discounter. Growth markets targeted with lower prices Lidl shoppers in Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia can now benefit after the discounter announced the permanent reduction in price for over 100 products in its assortment. Everyday items, ...