Developments in the E-Food Market: The Delivery Services Race

The online grocery market in Germany is experiencing a dynamic growth phase. While quick commerce services like Gorillas and Flink are declining, established providers like Rewe, Picnic, and Knuspr are focusing on sustainable expansion and optimized logistics solutions. Here are the key developments and numbers:

Rewe: Stable Expansion and Innovative Solutions

Rewe has established itself as a significant player in the E-Food market, with an estimated online revenue between 680 million and one billion euros. Rewe has covered large parts of Germany and works with external drivers and fleets to flexibly respond to demand fluctuations.

Picnic: Aggressive Expansion and Market Leadership

Picnic, in which Edeka holds a one-third stake, is expanding aggressively with weekly new hub openings. An automated high-bay warehouse in Oberhausen aims to enhance efficiency and achieve Ebitda profitability. Picnic targets young families and is continuously growing in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Knuspr: High-Quality Products and Ambitious Goals

Knuspr, a subsidiary of the Czech Rohlik Group, plans to go public in the medium term. With a broad product range and highly automated warehouses, Knuspr focuses on profitable growth. The Rohlik Group generated around 700 million euros in 2023, with a significant share coming from the German market.

Flaschenpost: Largest Network, but Challenges in the Food Sector

Flaschenpost, acquired by the Oetker Group, has the largest network of all providers and is represented nationwide. The beverage specialist faces challenges in the food sector and has introduced separate minimum order values for beverages and food.

Wolt: International Presence and Local Partnerships

Wolt, the only truly international delivery service in Germany, works with local partners such as Tegut and individual Edeka retailers. Despite partnerships, Wolt faces resistance from retailers reluctant to share their data. Wolt is also experimenting with delivering non-food items like Ikea products.

Market Developments and Outlook

The E-Food market in Germany is steadily growing. In 2023, the online share was about 3 percent, corresponding to 7.5 billion euros. The challenge lies in balancing expansion, innovation, and profitability. Significant changes could occur if discounters like Aldi and the Schwarz Group (Lidl, Kaufland) increase their market presence.

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