{"id":29196,"date":"2026-07-01T13:44:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/?p=29196"},"modified":"2026-07-27T15:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T13:06:16","slug":"from-zero-to-woof-rewe-retailer-simon-bacher-on-his-journey-to-opening-the-first-zooroyal-specialty-store-in-north-rhine-westphalia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rewe-group.com\/en\/press-and-media\/newsroom\/stories\/from-zero-to-woof-rewe-retailer-simon-bacher-on-his-journey-to-opening-the-first-zooroyal-specialty-store-in-north-rhine-westphalia\/","title":{"rendered":"From Zero to Woof: REWE Retailer Simon Bacher on His Journey to Opening the First ZooRoyal Specialty Store in North Rhine-Westphalia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n \n
\n \"Exterior\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Press release<\/p>\n

\n

28 February 2025<\/p>\n

Pet-friendly success: REWE pushes ahead with Germany-wide rollout of stationary ZooRoyal stores<\/h2> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/button>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n \n

Meerbusch on a warm morning. Simon Bacher\u2019s farm is a hive of activity: there\u2019s the lively wagging of his young Magyar Vizsla, Frida. There are his goats and chickens, peering curiously over the fence. For Simon Bacher, this environment isn\u2019t a stark contrast to his job as a REWE independent retailer \u2014 it\u2019s the source of his inspiration. This is exactly where the new, multi-part documentary series \u201cFrom Zero to Woof\u201d begins. The series follows the 37-year-old and his team up close on their journey toward a real milestone:\u00a0<\/span>die<\/span> Opening of the first brick-and-mortar <\/span>ZooRoyal <\/span>specialty store in North Rhine-Westphalia in July 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Portrait\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

About:<\/h2>

\n Simon Bacher <\/p>\n\n

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

\n Simon Bacher is opening the first ZooRoyal store in North Rhine-Westphalia. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

From my parents’ farm stand to my own supermarket <\/h2>\n

“Simon Bacher was born with a passion for retail. I\u2019ve worked my whole life in my parents\u2019 farm stand \u2014 they\u2019re farmers,<\/q> he says. Of course, I enjoyed driving a tractor, but what I loved most was working alongside my mother in the farm store, which is how my greatest wish developed: to one day become a REWE store manager.<\/q> After earning his degree in business administration and gaining experience at various large corporations, he made this dream a reality: Since the summer of 2025, he has been successfully running his own REWE store in nearby Haan.<\/p>\n

But when the REWE Group decided to roll out the successful omnichannel concept of the specialty retailer ZooRoyal in the west to brick-and-mortar stores as well, he didn\u2019t hesitate for a second. For this passionate animal lover, pet supplies are a project close to his heart. In the first episode of the documentary series, Bacher takes viewers into his two worlds \u2014 his farm and his supermarket \u2014 and explains his personal motivation for taking this bold step.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Video<\/p>\n

01:33<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Simon\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n