{"id":28147,"date":"2026-03-24T13:43:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T12:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/?p=28147"},"modified":"2026-03-25T13:59:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T12:59:44","slug":"counterquestion-why-should-a-woman-hesitate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/stories\/counterquestion-why-should-a-woman-hesitate\/","title":{"rendered":"“Counterquestion: Why should a woman hesitate?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ms. Agelidu, you decided to go into self-employment for yourself by opening a REWE supermarket in Cologne, which you successfully managed for many years. What was the deciding factor that led you to take this step?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Debora <\/span>Agelidu<\/span>: <\/span><\/strong>My son wasn\u2019t the only deciding factor, but he was certainly one of them. He completed his apprenticeship at REWE and now works here with me at the store. When I heard that the stores were going to be privatized, I went through the assessment center in November 2024 just to be on the safe side. I figured that if an opportunity came up and I was still up for it and in the mood for an adventure like that \u2014 then I\u2019d already have this \u201clicense to be an entrepreneur\u201d in my pocket. Last summer, I found out that my store was up for sale. And this store here is my baby. And if my baby is being sold \u2014 and my big baby, my son, works here\u2026 For me, it was a wonderful coincidence, and I expressed my interest.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The coincidence came to you <\/span>to your aid<\/span>. But does it take courage <\/span>?<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Debora <\/span>Agelidu<\/span>:<\/span><\/strong>I\u2019ve always had courage. As someone who switched careers, I know exactly what I\u2019m capable of and how much I can achieve. And because I was a single parent, I have a lot of self-confidence. Being self-employed is now my chance to start a family business and pass it on to my son, securing a future for him. For a mother, there\u2019s nothing better than that. It\u2019s good to know that he\u2019s protected within the cooperative. Actually, this cooperative is great. You don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel; you help each other, share experiences, and even swap extra flour sometimes. I\u2019m not alone there\u2014my network keeps growing and growing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Debora Agelidu<\/p>\n

REWE independent retailer<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Being self-employed is now my chance to start a family business and pass it on to my son, securing a future for him. For a mother, there\u2019s nothing better than that. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/div>\n

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Debora Agelidu<\/p>\n

REWE independent retailer<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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You\u2019re becoming self-employes at the age of 57\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Debora <\/span>Agelid<\/span>:<\/span><\/strong>\u2026a wonderful age, right in the middle of my life. My grandfather and my great-grandfather both lived past 100; I have good genes, and I don\u2019t feel old. And this job keeps my mind young and sharp: new technology, new expertise, new ideas, new products. As someone who switched careers, I\u2019ve learned so much at REWE. You always have to stay open-minded, let life flow, and embrace whatever comes your way.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Many female colleagues hesitate to take the step of starting their own business; only about 20 percent of business owners are women. What are your reasons for taking this step?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Debora <\/span>Agelidu<\/span>: <\/span><\/strong>Counterquestion: Why should I hesitate at all? Shouldn\u2019t I rather ask myself: What do I have to lose? You can only learn from the experience. Unfortunately, most women don\u2019t live up to their full potential. Many don\u2019t dare to take the plunge. Yet most women are so well-organized. They manage their jobs, households, and children. After all, work is primarily about organization. The rest can be learned\u2014leading people is something you can learn. Because: Who communicates more, us women or men?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What does it take to run a market successfully?<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Debora <\/span>Agelidu<\/span>: <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It takes a passion for the job, for food<\/span> but also for the work with the team, the contact with the customers. <\/span>For me, it’s just the right thing. <\/span>I’m a people person. And I am greek. I love food. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Finally, a question: Based on your professional experience, what advice would you give your son and future colleagues?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Debora <\/span>Agelidu<\/span>: <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>I want him to enjoy doing his job. And that he knows: The more you give in life, <\/span>umso<\/span> you get more in return<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\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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    \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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    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":"

    Debora Agelidu has laid the foundations for her family business: At the age of 57, confident, self-assured, with and for her son, the experienced REWE store manager set up her own business. For the Cologne native, self-employment is not a matter of courage, but of confidence in her own abilities as a senior manager. For example: organizing and communicating. And who, according to Agelidu, can do that better than women? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":28098,"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":"1840,14083,1491,44256,40470,1907","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","nl_adhoc_sent":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"sales_line":[19],"focus_theme":[142],"class_list":["post-28147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-company","sales_line-rewe-group","focus_theme-undefined"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28147","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=28147"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28163,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28147\/revisions\/28163"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28147"},{"taxonomy":"sales_line","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sales_line?post=28147"},{"taxonomy":"focus_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/focus_theme?post=28147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}