{"id":26994,"date":"2025-10-17T13:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T11:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/?p=26994"},"modified":"2026-03-04T16:51:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T15:51:55","slug":"our-cooperative-strengthens-small-and-medium-sized-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/stories\/our-cooperative-strengthens-small-and-medium-sized-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"“Our cooperative strengthens small- and medium-sized businesses”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Niklas M\u00fcller has been on the Management Board of F\u00dcR SIE eG for over 100 days and already brings ten years of experience to the company. <\/span>In the articl<\/span>e he talks about his new role, the strengths of the cooperative and the <\/span>future prospects <\/span>for SMEs. He particularly emphasizes the importance of expansion, digitalization and partnership-based cooperation – both within the cooperative and <\/span>also with the REWE GROUP. M\u00fcller sees the cooperative as a modern, sustainable model that offers young people in particular a sense of purpose, community and creative freedom.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We wanted to know how the 34-year-old experienced his first few months in his new role, where he sees the cooperative’s strengths and why SMEs in particular benefit from membership of F\u00dcR SIE eG.<\/span><\/p>\n

My tasks were very beverage-specific until I started at F\u00dcR SIE eG. Over the last few months, I’ve been familiarizing myself intensively with new business segments and have spent a lot of time in the sales department,<\/q> says Niklas M\u00fcller, describing his first time as a Management Board member. Personal interaction with members and customers was particularly important to him – and was received positively throughout. Together with his fellow board member Dr. Martin K\u00fcssner, M\u00fcller forms a team that ideally complements each other thanks to their different industry experience.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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About:<\/h2>

\n Niklas Miller <\/p>\n\n \n

\n is a member of the Management Board of F\u00dcR SIE eG <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Records and new challenges<\/h2>\n

2024 was a record year for F\u00dcR SIE eG – with sales distributions of a new order of magnitude. But M\u00fcller warns against deceptive calm: The markets are dynamic, changes are omnipresent.<\/q> Expansion and acquisition remain key issues. The cooperative has recorded strong membership growth and a broader customer base in recent years. Our aim is to join forces and share knowledge – so that every member becomes stronger.<\/q><\/p>\n

Changes are also imminent in the back office area. New supplier negotiation formats and digital services are being tested. Niklas M\u00fcller attaches particular importance to intensifying communication with members: We want to move away from one-off meetings and towards a continuous dialog.<\/q><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Growth potential in the SME sector<\/h2>\n

Niklas M\u00fcller sees further growth potential for the cooperative – especially among small and medium-sized companies. We give them access to conditions and services that they could hardly achieve on their own,<\/q> emphasizes the F\u00dcR SIE boss. Most of the new members have recently come from the large consumer sector – a sign of the model’s attractiveness. <\/span><\/p>\n

He also sees great potential in the market for commercial kitchens and company canteens: Medium-sized businesses in particular need support in areas such as digitalization, billing or customer management. Genau dort setzen wir an.<\/q><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Promotion through community<\/h2>\n

F\u00dcR SIE eG sees itself as an active supporter of its members. Our core mission is clear: we negotiate purchasing benefits and offer services that would be almost impossible for individual companies to implement on their own,<\/q> says M\u00fcller. Examples of this include digital marketing tools, joint brands such as “DIE GETR\u00c4NKEK\u00d6NNER” and customer loyalty programs. In this way, we strengthen our members in their day-to-day business and develop the network at the same time.<\/q><\/span><\/p>\n

For Niklas M\u00fcller, the cooperation with REWE GROUP is not a one-way street either: Our members contribute regional anchoring and market knowledge from which the entire Group benefits.<\/q><\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A medium-sized company – networked throughout the Group<\/h2>\n

F\u00dcR SIE eG combines the best of both worlds, says M\u00fcller: Our medium-sized character enables flat hierarchies, quick decisions and a lot of creative freedom.<\/q> At the same time, we are closely networked with the REWE GROUP. This combination is what makes it so attractive.\u201c<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>For Niklas M\u00fcller, the cooperative is the model for the future: <\/q>We are SMEs through and through – close to our members and their daily challenges. At the same time, we offer the opportunities of a corporate group. The cooperative is not a model of yesterday, but one of the future. Young people in particular are looking for a sense of purpose, community and creative freedom – and that’s exactly what we can offer.\u201c<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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About F\u00dcR SIE Handelsgenossenschaft eG Food – Non Food<\/h2> <\/div>\n
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    250 member companies from various sectors of the German retail industry have joined forces under the umbrella of F\u00dcR SIE. Together they achieve important competitive advantages without giving up their entrepreneurial independence. In addition to taking over del credere and central settlement, F\u00dcR SIE offers its members access to the product range of 4,300 contracted suppliers as well as numerous services in the areas of logistics, IT and marketing. F\u00dcR SIE eG and its member companies benefit from the successful cooperation with the REWE GROUP, which has been in place for many years.<\/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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      Press release<\/p>\n

      24 September 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      From the REWE GROUP for customers: toom Baumarkt DIY store and fulfillmenttools lay the foundation for flexible omnichannel services<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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      Press release<\/p>\n

      14 September 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      REWE GROUP Supports Cologne Cultural Fund<\/h3>\n

      Funding model helps the independent arts scene attract federal and EU funding to Cologne<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

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      Press release<\/p>\n

      17 August 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      S&P Reaffirms REWE GROUP’s \u201cBBB\u201d Rating (Outlook Stable)\u00a0<\/h3>\n

      REWE Group remains in a strong financial position and is focused on long-term growth through strategic investments<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

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      Story<\/p>\n

      10 August 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      Winter Vacation: The Waiting Game Is Over<\/h3>\n

      Recently, the number of bookings for the winter season has been picking up significantly again. Half of all bookings made with our tour operators are for long-haul destinations, and flexible travel options and unique experiences are very much in vogue. Here\u2019s an overview of the highlights from the new itineraries<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

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      Press release<\/p>\n

      24 July 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      Strategic Expansion of Hotel Operations: DERTOUR Group Becomes Sole Owner of DSR Hotel Holding<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n
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      Story<\/p>\n

      23 July 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      “I’m an optimistic person. I’ve always been that way.”<\/h3>\n

      For Ines Batz of DERTOUR, the effectiveness of her appreciative, positive, and calm leadership style was evident not only during stressful periods at work but also during a personal crisis: Her team naturally stepped in and supported her through that time. From her own career experience, she also knows that no one is perfectly prepared for a leadership position. Her advice to other women: Take it one step at a time\u2014with courage, curiosity, and confidence.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

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      22 July 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      Sports Bring People Together: Inclusion Right in the Heart of the Neighborhood<\/h3>\n

      What\u2019s it like to play wheelchair basketball? Florian S\u00f6rensen, manager of the sales department, tried it out for himself at the inclusive family sports festival in Berlin-Reinickendorf in early July. A few meters away, European Para-Badminton Champion Rick Hellmann was playing with guests. Fifty meters away, children were climbing a tower made of empty water crates, while at the many other booths, people were discussing the theme of the day: the self-determined participation of people with disabilities in social life.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/li>\n

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      15 July 2026<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

      CSD 2026: Take a Stand. Embrace Diversity.<\/h3>\n

      Together with our LGBTIQ employee network, DITO, we are once again participating in numerous Christopher Street Days and Pride events this year. For the first time, we\u2019ll have trucks in six German cities, and we\u2019re also supporting numerous regional Pride events as well as initiatives organized by our regional offices and retailers. We are also sending a clear message of diversity at our locations in Austria, Italy, and Slovakia. <\/p>\n \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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      \n Join the discussion on LinkedIn <\/h2>\n
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      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 <\/a>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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

      Niklas M\u00fcller has been part of the Management Board of F\u00dcR SIE eG for over 100 days – and already brings a decade of experience to the company. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":25447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","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":"25814,25724,9095,27052,27235,26156","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","nl_adhoc_sent":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"sales_line":[89],"focus_theme":[142],"class_list":["post-26994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-management","sales_line-fuer-sie","focus_theme-undefined"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26994"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27857,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26994\/revisions\/27857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26994"},{"taxonomy":"sales_line","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sales_line?post=26994"},{"taxonomy":"focus_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/focus_theme?post=26994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}