The “Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Einkaufsgenossenschaften” – ADEG for short – is 130 years old. The more than 180 retailers prove that cooperatives combine bold innovations with strong regional roots. Since 2006, they have shared a common foundation of values with REWE Group that is deeply rooted in the cooperative tradition of REWE Group.
In 1895 committed retailers in Styria founded a purchasing cooperative – the beginning of a success story that continues to this day. In 1929 15 regional cooperatives united to form the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Einkaufsgenossenschaften” – ADEG for short. What began with the aim of jointly creating better purchasing conditions developed over the decades into an indispensable pillar for local supply in Austria – and the oldest still existing purchasing cooperative in the country. Over the years, ADEG retailers have repeatedly demonstrated a pioneering spirit: they were among the first to include frozen food in their range, promoted self-service in retail and established innovative local supply concepts.
2006 marked the beginning of a new era with the entry of the REWE Group: initially, REWE acquires 24.9% of the shares in ADEG Österreich Handels-AG. In the following years, this stake is expanded until ADEG is fully integrated into Rewe International AG. ADEG thus gains a strong partner in European retail, which promotes the independence of ADEG retailers and at the same time offers the backing of an international group.
Today, ADEG has around 360 locations and around 2.300 employees throughout Austria – as a local supplier, social meeting place and the heart of many communities.
ADEG retailers prove their innovative strength time and again: they are rethinking retail, constantly modernizing their stores and providing targeted impetus for greater Sustainability. One example of this is the hybrid stores – a forward-looking step that does not come at the expense of jobs, but supports employees in their day-to-day work and enables more flexible opening hours for customers. Our retailers are not only rooted in the region, they are also courageous shapers of change,
says Florian Klein, Managing Director of REWE Wholesale. Every day, they show how modern local supply works – responsibly, future-oriented and always close to the people.
Tanja Ebersberger runs her ADEG store and café with great proximity to customers and employees – inspired by her father, who spent his entire working life at ADEG. Markus Stubauer is also the fourth generation behind the till at his family business in Maria Neustift – a place where people know each other and shopping with friends has long been a reality.
And anyone who has been around for 130 years knows how to stay true to their roots and move with the times at the same time – by outgrowing themselves and constantly providing surprises: be it in terms of product range, services or social commitment in the community. Three retailers are representative of the strong and close-knit ADEG community.
Alexander Maier, for example, who opened his first store in 2021 at the age of just 27, is now already a two-time ADEG Kaufmann – bold, ambitious and full of ideas. Tanja Ebersberger runs her ADEG store and café with a close relationship with customers and employees – inspired by her father, who spent his entire working life at ADEG. Markus Stubauer is also the fourth generation behind the till at his family business in Maria Neustift – a place where people know each other and shopping with friends has long been a reality.
We are not only celebrating 130 years of company history, but above all those who bring it to life every day – with personal commitment, responsibility and genuine proximity to the region.
1895: How it all began
The foundation stone for ADEG is laid by a group of Styrian retailers who join forces to form a purchasing cooperative. Their goal: better purchasing conditions through joint action. This model becomes a model for similar associations in other federal states and marks the beginning of a success story that continues to this day.
1929: Creation of the ADEG brand
The purchasing cooperatives operating in Austria merge to form an umbrella organization in order to pool their strengths and increase their competitive advantage. With this step, the brand name ADEG is also introduced – an acronym for Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Einkaufsgenossenschaften. Although these are difficult economic times, ADEG sends out a strong signal for cooperation and cohesion.
1948: Growth in the post-war period
Despite the difficult post-war years, ADEG continues to grow after the Second World War: 21 purchasing cooperatives are now united, supplying over 4,500 stores throughout Austria. These in turn supply around one million consumers – a significant contribution to stabilizing the supply situation in the post-war period. Warehouses throughout Austria – from Vienna to Graz to Bregenz – secure the flow of goods.
1960: From umbrella organization to local supplier
A significant step for the organizational structure: Großeinkauf Waldviertler Kaufleute reg. Gen.m.b.H. merges with ADEG Österreich reg.Gen.m.b.H. ADEG is thus developing more and more from a pure umbrella organization into an independent player in the retail sector – an important milestone on the way to becoming a modern trading company.
1975: Foundation of ADEG Österreich Handels-AG
One of the largest restructurings in the company’s history: several cooperatives from Baden, Linz and Wels are integrated into ADEG Österreich reg. Gen.m.b.H.. ADEG Österreich Handels-AG is subsequently created – the operational business of the wholesale trade is transferred to the new public limited company as a contribution in kind. ADEG thus creates the basis for further growth and the professionalization of retail.
1987-1992: Further mergers & growth
In the following years, ADEG continues on its course of bundling: cooperatives from different federal states are gradually integrated. in 1992, only the large cooperative ADEG Austria and the independent ADEG Wolfsberg e.Gen. remained – an important step towards standardizing the structures.
1994: ADEG as a strong retail brand
In the mid-1990s, ADEG was a major player in the Austrian food retail sector: seven wholesale stores, 109 company-owned branches and around 1,388 ADEG stores with around 9,400 employees were part of the Group. Annual sales amounted to an impressive (at the time) 30 billion Austrian schillings – ADEG is firmly anchored in the regions and strengthens local supply.
2006: Stronger together ADEG & REWE take off
A new era begins with the entry of the REWE Group: Rewe initially acquires 24.9% of the shares in ADEG Österreich Handels-AG. In the following years, this stake is expanded until ADEG is fully integrated into Rewe International AG. ADEG thus gains a strong partner in European retail, which promotes the independence of ADEG retailers and at the same time offers the backing of an international group.
2025: ADEG as a brand of REWE Großhandel GmbH
Since October 2022, ADEG has been a brand of Rewe Großhandel GmbH. It supports the approximately 180 independent ADEG retailers throughout Austria with customized concepts, own brands and innovative services. ADEG remains what it has always been: a reliable partner for regional local supply with heart, firmly anchored in the communities.
