{"id":19983,"date":"2023-05-17T14:03:54","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T12:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/de\/?post_type=opinion&p=30144"},"modified":"2023-06-01T11:27:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T09:27:38","slug":"we-must-embark-on-this-path-together","status":"publish","type":"opinion","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/opinions\/we-must-embark-on-this-path-together\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe must embark on this path together\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dear Reader,<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It has been nearly 100 years since the cooperative REWE GROUP was founded. But don\u2019t think we focus solely on tradition to the detriment of innovation. Innovation, sustainability, and a sense of community are some of the values that shape who we are. To me, the REWE GROUP\u2019s centre of excellence for agriculture, which was established this year, is a perfect illustration of these values. It represents true innovation within the German food retail business.<\/p>\n

We will use this forum to take the collaboration between the retail and agriculture sectors to the next level. Together, we are working to actively transform the agricultural industry. Harnessing the expertise of all those involved, we are discussing and developing solutions that will lead to actual products on the shelves of REWE and PENNY \u2013 and thus to ensure that our customers are with us. And we will lead these discussions in a spirit of equal collaboration, which is a particularly important concern for me personally.<\/p>\n

As an independent REWE retailer, local and regional products play a major role in my stores. My customers ask for asparagus, eggs, and strawberries from the farmer around the corner, whom they know personally. Like us, they want to foster these regional relationships and, if you will, enjoy a taste of home. However, from this close collaboration and various discussions with farmers, we also understand the challenges facing the industry. I understand both sides of the issue. Particularly given my own background, growing up on a farm in the Siebengebirge area to the south-east of Bonn. I myself have driven a combine harvester and been up at the crack of dawn to see to the cows, bulls, and chickens \u2013 so I understand the best and the most challenging aspects of farming life.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"Erich-Stockhausen\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Erich Stockhausen<\/p>\n

Independent Retailer and former Chairman of the REWE GROUP\u2019s Supervisory Board<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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I am proud to be Chairman of the Supervisory Board of a company that breaks new ground and tackles the practical aspects of implementing agricultural innovation, without getting lost in the theory.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n

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Erich Stockhausen<\/p>\n

Independent Retailer and former Chairman of the REWE GROUP\u2019s Supervisory Board<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Regional supply chains are deeply rooted in our retailer community. We want to and we must preserve the structures of rural life. We demonstrated this commitment through our REWE local partnership, and it is now time to take the next step. I am fully aware that the path to achieving the necessary transformation will be long and sometimes difficult. However, we must embark on this path together. Together, we must shape the change that is needed, we must think the unthinkable and establish concrete regional projects with strong partners. I am proud to be Chairman of the Supervisory Board of a company that breaks new ground and tackles the practical aspects of implementing agricultural innovation, without getting lost in the theory. Because we take farmers seriously. True to our mission: By the people, for the people.<\/q><\/p>\n

This is the principle that guides us, too, as independent REWE retailers. We want to preserve our stores for future generations. Our children, too, must have the opportunity to enjoy supplying the local community with food, in being a meeting place for the village or neighbourhood and, ultimately, in fostering the relationships which underpin rural life. And that is why I say: \u00a0Let\u2019s embark on this path together!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Yours Erich Stockhausen<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n \"Erich-Stockhausen\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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About:<\/h2>

\n Erich Stockhausen <\/p>\n\n

Independent Retailer and former Chairman of the REWE GROUP\u2019s Supervisory Board<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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About REWE GROUP<\/h2> <\/div>\n
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    The cooperatively organized REWE GROUP is one of the leading trade and tourism groups in Germany and Europe. In 2025, the company generated a total external turnover of more than 100 billion euros. Founded in 1927, REWE GROUP operates with around 380,000 employees in 21 European countries.<\/p>\n

    The sales lines include REWE, REWE CENTER, nahkauf and BILLA as well as ADEG supermarkets and consumer stores, the discounter PENNY, IKI, the drugstores BIPA and the toom Baumarkt DIY stores. The company also operates convenience stores REWE To Go, REWE express and the e-commerce activities REWE Liefer- and Abholservice as well as Zooroyal and Weinfreunde. The Lekkerland Group comprises the wholesale activities of the business group in the area of on-the-go consumption. Under the umbrella of DERTOUR Group, the Travel and Tourism division includes more than 2,000 travel agencies, tour operators as well as hotel brands and online travel portals.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Read more<\/h2>\n \n <\/div>\n
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      Green Week 2026: Strong signals for agriculture – and a special award for Emilie Bourgoin<\/h3>\n

      Direct exchange with our domestic agricultural sector is more important than ever. At this year’s Green Week in Berlin, REWE Group once again demonstrated that a tangible course for sustainable agriculture in Germany can only be set through even stronger joint commitment from all players along the value chain.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

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      9 September 2025<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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      zum Thema <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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      Join the discussion on LinkedIn<\/h2>\n

      Our LinkedIn feed has all the latest information from the REWE GROUP and the sector, with the most important developments from the worlds of retail, e-commerce, food, CSR and policy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n \n To LinkedIn feed <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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      <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Erich Stockhausen is an independent REWE retailer as well as the Chairman of the REWE Group Supervisory Board \u2013 and as of this year, he is also the patron of the newly established centre of excellence for agriculture. In our latest edition of Voice of the Month, he explains why cooperative values will help the centre of excellence to succeed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":19849,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","nl_adhoc_sent":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"focus_theme":[142],"class_list":["post-19983","opinion","type-opinion","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-policy","focus_theme-undefined"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/19983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/opinion"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/19983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20003,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/opinion\/19983\/revisions\/20003"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19983"},{"taxonomy":"focus_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/focus_theme?post=19983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}