lgbtqia-rewe-group

Company | Culture and Compliance | Diversity

LGBTQIA+

The REWE Group is a tolerant, modern employer. For us, that means welcoming and respecting all people, without prejudice, whatever their sexual orientation. Nobody should have to hide their sexuality or sexual identity for fear of harassment, discrimination or prejudice. Our LGBTQIA+ network DITO helps to ensure that everyone feels welcome and safe in the REWE Group.

Diversity management is not simply an issue for individual departments. Instead, it must be part and parcel of the corporate culture. We need to foster an organisational culture characterised by mutual respect, one that values each and every individual.

Lionel Souque, Chief Executive Officer
Lionel Souque (Chief Executive Officer)
Lionel Souque, Chief Executive Officer

A clear signal for diversity

It all began in spring 2016, when we started displaying a rainbow sticker at the entrances to more than 3,300 REWE stores. The rainbow sticker symbolises tolerance and diversity, communicating to our employees and customers that we offer a space that is free from prejudice and where no one is excluded.

Since then, we have brought the rainbow to toom Baumarkt stores, PENNY supermarkets and DER travel agencies. Each year, the REWE Group also hangs 2,500 rainbow flags outside its stores during Pride Month to demonstrate its solidarity with the cause.

The rainbow stickers and flags send out a clear signal that we support tolerance and diversity; a gesture that is appreciated by our employees and customers alike.

LGBTQIA+ network

In 2013, we established our LGBTQIA+ network DITO, which has been committed to advancing tolerance and acceptance at work ever since.

DITO Members

DITO, REWE Group’s LGBTQIA+ network, consists of over 350 members.

DITO = different together

The REWE Group recognises that diversity and inclusion foster a productive, creative work environment and increase employee satisfaction.

What started as a regular meeting for gay and lesbian employees at our headquarters in Cologne has grown into DITO, the nationwide LGBTQIA+ network for REWE Group Germany. Its sponsor is CEO Lionel Souque, Chief Executive Officer of the REWE Group. Employees active in DITO organise network meet-ups and events aimed at promoting tolerance and openness.

Today, DITO is a clear example of diversity and inclusion within the REWE Group. The network offers acceptance and support for LGBTQIA+ employees throughout Germany and thus increases employee satisfaction and innovative potential.

Flying the flag

Since 2015, the REWE Group has been an active participant in the ColognePride Christopher Street Day parade, with a troupe on the ground as well as a float. 2024 marks the second year of the REWE Group’s involvement in ColognePride, together with REWE and PENNY, as a main sponsor. Our DITO network takes part in Pride marches in other cities, too, including Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt and Leipzig. The company also provides financial support to many other Pride events.

Our involvement sends a strong signal in support of diversity and acceptance, and demonstrates the REWE Group’s commitment to human rights and fighting discrimination. The REWE Group also promotes diversity and integration on an international scale.

PENNY Italy officially sponsored Milano Pride for the first time in 2024 and was proud to fly the flag at the parade in Milan.

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Strong together through football

The Come Together Cup is one of Europe’s most popular recreational football tournaments. Once a year, some 20,000 spectators gather to watch over 1,200 football players take the field to promote diversity and tolerance. Representing the REWE Group are a men’s and a women’s team called the “REWE Group DITO Kickers”.

To support the tournament, DITO runs a refreshment stand and donates the proceeds to Aidshilfe Köln. In this way, DITO not only promotes tolerance, but also supports a good cause.

Image of a soccer match with two players standing in front of the goal.

Bears for solidarity

Every year since 2017, DITO has been promoting solidarity and awareness for World Aids Day and other important causes.

DITO volunteers sell ‘solidarity teddy bears’ on World Aids Day and collect donations at events. In Cologne, DITO supports the youth centre anyway e.V. and the outreach and awareness project Schlau NRW.

These activities help fund Kölner Aidshilfe, anyway e.V. and Schlau NRW and bolster DITO’s commitment to society and to fighting discrimination.

The REWE Group’s partnership with the PROUT AT WORK foundation promotes equality of opportunity for employees regardless of sexual orientation.

PENNY provides financial support to the non-profit organisation Queermentor, which seeks to advance diversity and inclusion.

Pride Champion Gold Award

The REWE Group promotes diversity and has a successful diversity management programme. This was the conclusion of the independent Pride Champion Audit conducted by the Uhlala Group. In 2023, we were awarded the LGBTQ+ employer seal in Gold for the second year running, having improved on our result from the previous year by earning 90 per cent of the total possible points; an increase of ten per cent.

The seal certifies companies that pursue holistic LGBTQIA+ diversity management and establish structures in which all employees feel seen, heard and valued.

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