From 2026, ZooRoyal – REWE Group’s modern pet supplies retailer – will be rolling out its own brick-and-mortar stores across Germany. What has been generating enthusiasm especially online and in REWE and PENNY stores will then also be available to experience in person: a modern store concept, a wide range of specialist pet products—and, above all, people who are passionate and knowledgeable about what they do.
The rollout of the ZooRoyal stores marks the beginning of a new chapter in REWE’s history. In addition to retail sales assistants, we will soon be welcoming completely new, exciting job profiles among our colleagues. Whether it’s a groomer, an aquarist or a buyer for dog beds and cat scratching posts: in our series “Animal dream jobs”, we introduce you to ZooRoyal colleagues who have turned their passion into a profession and show how diverse working with and for animals can be.
About:
Andrea Ozekker
Groomer at ZooRoyal in Elmshorn at FellSpa
She was actually supposed to become deputy store manager at REWE’s Kim Ide, brand new ZooRoyal store in Elmshorn. But when the retailer and his store manager Jennyver Solbau were urgently looking for someone to run the store FellSpa, Andrea Ozekker decided to take a different path. The trained hairdresser explains: I trimmed my giant schnauzer myself for 15 years and then quickly trained as a dog groomer. ZooRoyal supported me completely in everything.
Today, at the age of 56, she is living her dream job.
The FellSpa is an important part of the ZooRoyal specialist store concept. There is a shortage of groomers in many German cities. With our FellSpa, we attract customers to our stores, offer them an attractive additional service and turn them into loyal regular customers,
says Marcel Bersch, the ZooRoyal managing director responsible for brick-and-mortar stores. The fact that Andrea’s appointments are often fully booked for months in advance shows that the service is well received by animal lovers.
Pawsome dream jobs: pet groomer Andrea Ozekker at ZooRoyal
Andrea Ozekker, dog groomer at ZooRoyal Elmshorn, demonstrates her passion for creative coat care and explains why she considers her profession to be a true art form.
“I don’t want to do anything else”
Andrea Ozekker’s everyday life is a colorful mixture of craftsmanship, creativity and love of animals. From nervous Chihuahuas to cuddly retrievers, Andrea takes an individual approach to each four-legged friend. There is strength in calm, don’t forget to breathe. That’s what I tell myself, but sometimes I also tell the dogs,
she explains. Patience and sensitivity are just as much a part of the job as specialist knowledge about coat care, breed standards or the right way to handle sensitive animals.
Of course, the job also brings challenges, for example with matted or particularly temperamental dogs. But for Andrea, the joy prevails: When the dogs are picked up and the customers are delighted with how beautiful their dogs have become, that’s exactly what I love doing.
Moments like these confirm to her every day that she has chosen the right path.
Andrea Ozekker particularly appreciates the fact that ZooRoyal and salesman Kim Ide have supported her along the way. The organization of her training, further education, and a strong team in the market give her the security to concentrate fully on the dogs. We are a great team, we laugh a lot, help each other and tackle things together when things get tricky.
With a view to the planned expansion and the many ZooRoyal FellSpas that are to follow Andrea’s pioneering store in Elmshorn, she is convinced that the profession of dog groomer offers exciting opportunities, especially for career changers. Anyone who wants to work creatively and loves animals will find their dream job here. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
