The REWE Group successfully concluded financial year 2023 on a stable footing thanks to its broad international presence in the Retail, Travel and Tourism segments. Total external revenue clearly outstripped the 92 billion-euro mark – albeit partly as a result of inflation. EBITA bounced back into positive territory after a decline in 2022. Our consolidated earnings for the year amounted to 736.2 million euros. Our workforce increased by 1.3 per cent to 389,270. The company continued our systematic three billion-euro programme of investment in infrastructure, modernisation, digitalisation, innovation and sustainability so that we can continue to meet the needs of our customers in the future.
The geopolitical and economic environment remained fraught in 2023, with the knock-on effects from the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, extreme weather events and natural catastrophes, supply chain uncertainty, price hikes in every area – with logistics, transport and packaging among the primary price drivers, soaring inflation and the resulting financial precarity hitting home with consumers. Despite these challenges, the REWE Group performed well economically in 2023. Key steps to ensure the Group’s future competitive viability and its continued sustainable, healthy growth were initiated and successfully implemented.