“We are a family business”

I was born in Brazil and have lived in Germany for 32 years. Before I worked here, I was a customer. I’m a queer DJ, that’s my main profession. I couldn’t do my job during the coronavirus period, everything was closed. I didn’t want to wait for better times and applied for a job at Ridders. I’ve been here since 2021. The environment and the working hours are completely different to what I’m used to as a DJ. The work is a lot of fun. I had no problem integrating at all. Everyone has their own view of life, and that’s a good thing, we all get along really well. You just have to accept and respect each other. It’s a cultural exchange, we learn a lot from each other. Friendships have even developed, some colleagues come to the parties when I perform as a drag queen.

I came to Germany from Damascus in 2015 and have been with Ridders for five years. I really enjoy working here, it’s my second home. I think it’s great that you have so much contact with customers and colleagues at work. It was a bit difficult at the beginning because I didn’t know all the customers and colleagues yet. I invested in my language skills and further training at the vocational college, which helped me a lot. The market is also a place of integration because you work with many different nationalities here. You exchange ideas about the different cultures that everyone brings with them.

I was a customer at Ridders with my mom as a child. We always enjoyed shopping there because of the atmosphere and the Turkish employees. When I was looking for an internship in the ninth grade, the REWE store was literally just around the corner, so I did my first internship here when I was fifteen. I liked the relaxed atmosphere and the colorful variety. It’s important for me to be noticed and respected by the employees. For me, that is the key to good, successful collaboration. Whether the team is large or small, you have to stand together. I learned that from Mr. Ridders. The team is like a solid wall that holds the building together: family-like, we look out for each other. We try to be there for each other and solve any problems that arise together. Mr. Ridders was and is always there for us. Conversely, we are Udo Ridders’ family.

I came here from Ecuador 24 years ago. I didn’t speak much German back then, was looking for a job and contacted Mr. Ridders in 2001. Today I know I was lucky: with the boss and with the company. I look after dairy and convenience products, tidy up and restock. I like doing the job. The work is fun because the boss is a great person and spreads a good atmosphere. I’ve got to know a lot of people from many different nationalities here and have never had any problems. It’s like a second family.