German grocery – latest 2020 data

Nielsen TradeDimensions has recently published latest turnover data for the Top 30 grocery retailers, including their estimates for the largest fascia.

Covid was of course the main reason for an overall 10% turnover increase in 2020 of the Top 30, which amounted to almost € 264.1bn, of which food accounted for almost € 223bn (+8.2%).

Amongst the Top 4 (EDEKA, REWE, Schwarz and ALDI) there was not much change in turnover or market share where EDEKA lost 0.4%, REWE gained 1.1%, Schwarz +0.5% and ALDI +0.1%. These 4 now account for 74.5% of the Top 30 compared with 70.2% in 2019.

The 4 have led the Top 30 list now for quite a few years. Only REWE has showed recent gains, mainly through its acquisition of Lekkerland. There will be further movement in the 2021 data due to the break-up of the Real superstores by Metro in 2020 at No. 6. In 2020.  The new No. 5 in the list is the drugstore chain dm, closely followed at No. 7 by its direct competitor Rossmann. dm turned over      € 8.5bn in 2020, Rossmann € 7.3bn and Müller (No. 13) approx. € 3.1bn.

All groups with a foodservice focus, e.g. Metro, Bartels-Langness (Citti), Transgourmet – suffered due to the pandemic.

Two chains with an organic focus fared quite well in 2020. Dennree climbed to No. 16 in 2020 with sales of € 1.4bn and Alnatura to No. 19 with € 1.1bn of sales.

EDEKA last year turned over more than € 67bn, resulting in a market share of 25%. The regional divisions increased turnover by 10.8%, their Netto discounter by 8%.

REWE achieved € 55.6bn sales in 2020. Its Penny discount division grew by 5.4%, a lower level in comparison to direct competitors (Lidl +9%, Aldi Nord +8.4%, Aldi Süd +8% and Netto +8%)