In the midst of life, close to people: In our film series, we present impressive REWE Group retailers – strong personalities who have led their stores to success with their individual signature and a common sales concept.
Their stories are as diverse as they are – and yet they are united by a common foundation of values that is deeply rooted in REWE Group’s cooperative tradition. Today in portrait: REWE independent retailer Kathrin Gödecke.
1927, 17 food wholesale cooperatives agreed to merge into one strong organization, marking the birth of REWE. Just as old, and in some cases even older, are the stories of individual families of retailers who have been running their stores for generations. One of these families is that of REWE independent retailer Kathrin Gödecke. They have been supplying their customers in the region since 1900 – Kathrin Gödecke is the fourth generation to take over the stores and the next generation is already ready.
I am committed to the location in order to give something back to the region.
This connection to the region and the Ruhr area is palpable as soon as you enter Kathrin Gödecke’s stores – she gives her REWE stores a personal touch with features and language elements in the style of mining. In addition to her work as a independent retailer, she is also involved in voluntary work in the region, chairs the regional committee of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Bottrop, represents her views in both local and federal politics and even acts as a commercial judge at Essen District Court.
Portrait of Kathrin Gödecke
REWE merchant Kathrin Gödecke on her family’s success story and the importance of the cooperative.
The cooperative has contributed to the success of the Gödecke family in many ways. It impressively demonstrates how business can be conducted across generations and how important constant cohesion and mutual support are – within the family, among the retailers and throughout the cooperative.
