{"id":27477,"date":"2025-05-30T14:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T12:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/?p=27477"},"modified":"2026-03-03T16:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:37:23","slug":"i-was-used-to-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/stories\/i-was-used-to-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"“I was used to stress”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From construction machinery to the cash register and from there to the works council? Or from the church service to the digital office? These unusual paths are no exception at REWE GROUP. Career changers with non-food-related professions such as pastor or mechanic bring freshness, dynamism and new perspectives to our corporate culture. With their expertise from different professional fields, they are a great asset. They also bring with them the necessary qualities for a change, such as openness, flexibility and a willingness to learn – important skills in a transforming world of work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Antje Br\u00fcckner, originally a construction machinery maintenance mechanic, was unable to find a job as a woman in a male-dominated industry and was forced to change her career path. She quickly rose through the ranks to become a department manager at a REWE store – without any formal training in this area. She now uses her store experience as an independent works council member for her REWE and PENNY colleagues.<\/p>\n

Construction machinery maintenance mechanic, that was my career aspiration when I was almost 20 years old. After I graduated, I was standing in a company with my forklift license and two welder’s passes in my hand. The managing director said to me: <\/q>I need you now, but unfortunately I can’t hire you.” At the time, it was a purely male profession and the requirements for sanitary facilities were high. He would have had to have a separate toilet and washroom built for me as the only woman. He couldn’t afford that. And that was not my only experience: no one hired a woman in this male profession.”<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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About:<\/h2>

\n Antje Bridgeman <\/p>\n\n

Works council for REWE and PENNY<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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So I went to live with a family in Greece for a year. My only job was to teach the two children German. When I came back to Germany, my brother had already found me a job in catering. It wasn’t really my first choice, but once I had learned the ropes, I very quickly became shift manager and after two years assistant manager. That was around 2002, when the Deutschmark was converted to euros. Those were golden times in the hospitality industry, people still thought in Deutschmarks and tipped generously. Of course, that soon came to an end.<\/p>\n

In the summer of 2002, I saw a notice in a REWE (then still Minimal) in Munich city center: <\/q>Workers wanted.” I went in spontaneously, applied and got the job. First I worked at the checkout for many years and then in the butcher’s shop. Later, with a heavy heart, I moved to another REWE store as a department manager. I didn’t do any training for this. I was able to put my experience from the catering trade to good use in everyday store life: Managing employees, dealing with difficult customers, hygiene regulations – and I was used to stress.”<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Antje Bridgeman<\/p>\n

Works council for REWE and PENNY<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Career changers bring experience and often new ideas to the company.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n

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Antje Bridgeman<\/p>\n

Works council for REWE and PENNY<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At that time, I had already been a member of the large works council committee for several years before I was elected to the exemption as a representative for severely disabled employees in 2020. Since 2022, I have been responsible for around 40 REWE and PENNY stores in Munich as a works council member on leave. During Corona, I spent a year studying to become a communication and rhetoric trainer on my weekends. Since I’m a restless twin, I need the variety. The knowledge I gained there helps me in my work on the works council, because communication is my daily bread. As a works council member, I am very happy and grateful for the time I have spent working in the store. I understand the concerns of the employees and they in turn perceive me as “one of us”.<\/p>\n

Newcomers bring experience and often new ideas to the company. They are flexible, willing to learn and motivated, as they have made a conscious decision to enter this new profession.”<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Read more<\/h2>\n \n <\/div>\n
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    \n \"Two\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\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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    \n \"Teaser-Lionel-Souque-und-Bruno-Wenn_Collage\"\n\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\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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    Story<\/p>\n

    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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    Story<\/p>\n

    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":"

    The path from construction machinery maintenance mechanic to works council member led REWE South colleague Antje Br\u00fcckner via Greece and gastronomy, first to the checkout of a REWE store and then to the butcher’s shop there. What helped the career changer, who quickly made it into management positions, was her experience from her previous jobs, her willingness to learn – and her star sign. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":24798,"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":"15254,23361,27704,24811,20521,21735","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","nl_adhoc_sent":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"sales_line":[19],"focus_theme":[142],"class_list":["post-27477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers","sales_line-rewe-group","focus_theme-undefined"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27477","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=27477"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27488,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27477\/revisions\/27488"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27477"},{"taxonomy":"sales_line","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sales_line?post=27477"},{"taxonomy":"focus_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/focus_theme?post=27477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}