8 Top Supermarkets in Germany You Need to Visit

Looking for a supermarket in Germany but don’t know where to go? Check out this post for 8 top supermarkets in Germany you need to visit.

As an Au pair living in Germany, I’ve come across a wide variety of supermarkets during my time here. In fact, there were definitely some I visited more than others. However, if this is your first time in Germany, you probably won’t know some of the best ones to visit.

So, if you’re in Germany and you need a supermarket you’ve come to the right place! This post alone highlights the top supermarkets in Germany you need to visit as well as what makes them unique.

REWE (supermarkets in Germany)

Headquarted in Cologne, REWE is a great supermarket in Germany you need to visit. The name itself originated from the name “Revisionsverband der Westkauf-Genossenschafte” but it was shortened to “REWE” as an abbreviation. In fact, with over 3,000 stores in Germany, REWE is even known as the second largest food retailer in the country.

I for one, was not too surprised to hear this fact since I practically shop at REWE everyday. It’s the closest store near to my host family’s house and the supermarket even has their own store branded products: Ja!, REWE Beste Wahl, REWE Feine Welt, REWE Bio, REWE Bio + vegan, REWE Regional and REWE to go.

So, if you have a REWE near you in Germany, I highly recommend visiting. You’ll find a variety of products there that you can buy as well as dedicated sections for international products too.

ALDI (supermarkets in Germany)

Known as a multinational family-owned supermarket chain, ALDI is another great supermarket in Germany you need to visit. The name itself originated from the words “Albrecht Diskont” but it was shortened to ALDI as an abbreviation. “Albrecht” itself comes from the founders’ last names, Karl and Theo Albrecht, who are brothers. These two later split the chain into two different brands, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd, so that they could operate each brand separately and independently.

I for one, was already familiar with ALDI before I even stepped foot into Germany so visiting one in Deutschland felt oh so familiar. The only thing that was obviously different about them were the products. They were of course still cheap but since I was in a different country the food was more targeted towards Germans.

So, if you’re looking for a supermarket that sells cheap German food, I highly recommend visiting ALDI. If you’re in the north of Germany they’ll be known as Aldi Nord and vice versa for the south as seen below.

Kaufland (supermarkets in Germany)

Known as a German hypermarket chain, Kaufland is another supermarket in Germany you need to visit. A hypermarket, for those of you who don’t know, is simply a store that not only sells groceries but also clothes and other miscellaneous items too. So, if you’re an American like me, you can think of Kaufland as the German Target or Walmart in Deutschland.

I for one have not visited a Kaufland yet but it’s definitely on my Germany bucket list. In fact, I like to think of it like Germans would if they were to visit the U.S. In fact, when I met some in America most of them just raved about going to Target and Walmart for the first time simply for the American experience. So, in other words, I want to visit Kaufland for the German experience.

So, if you have a Kaufland near you, I highly recommend visiting! For an American, it could be a great place to go if you’re homesick or if you just need a Target replacement.

Penny (supermarkets in Germany)

Headquarted in Cologne, Penny is another supermarket in Germany you need to visit. It’s a German-French discount supermarket chain founded by Leibbrand Gruppe but it’s been fully owned by the Rewe Group since 1989. In fact, if you look at the video above you’ll also notice that the supermarket chain looks just like ALDI on the inside. The only difference I for one noticed was how big it was. I feel like most ALDIs I go to are a little bit smaller but that’s just my perspective.

Either way, if you’re looking for another alternative to ALDI, I highly recommend visiting Penny. This store is technically in competition with ALDI so they’re always trying to keep their prices low.

Lidl (supermarkets in Germany)

Similar to ALDI, Lidl is another supermarket in Germany you need to visit. It’s first location opened in Ludwigshafen, Germany in 1973 and the supermarket has expanded ever since. Now operating in more than 30 countries, Lidl has continued to employ more than 300,000 employees globally. Their mission overall is to make good groceries accessible to everyone by offering products at unbelievably low prices.

So, if you’re looking for another alternative to ALDI, I highly recommend visiting Lidl as your backup choice. All of their products are expertly curated by them to ensure that you receive the best quality at competitive prices.

Edeka (supermarkets in Germany)

Founded in 1907, Edeka is another supermarket in Germany you need to visit. The name itself originated from the words “Einkaufsgenossenschaft der Kolonialwarenhändler im Halleschen Torbezirk zu Berlin” but it was renamed as Edeka as an expansion from the previous abbreviation, E.d.K. In fact, if you were to live in Germany, you’d probably also be familiar with their popular Edeka-owned brand called Gut & Gunstig. In English, the brand literally translates to “good and cheap” and it’s on several of their boxes in Edeka.

So, if you’re looking for a German supermarket that houses its own brand, I highly recommend checking out Edeka. Their Gut & Gunstig products are always cheaper than the other brands available so you’ll get a good deal for your buck.

Netto (supermarkets in Germany)

Owned by Edeka, Netto is another supermarket in Germany you need to visit. It has around 4,000 branches in Germany and it’s just as cheap as Aldi, Lidl, and Penny. In fact, some people actually make the mistake of confusing it with the Danish supermarket chain, Netto, that’s based in Denmark.

I for one can see why since both supermarket chains have the same name. The only difference between the two chains however are the logos. The Danish supermarket chain has a dog on it while the German one doesn’t.

Either way, if you’re looking for another cheap discount supermarket to get your groceries, I highly recommend Netto. You can find them pretty much everywhere in Germany but if you need some help you can use this locator.

Norma (supermarkets in Germany)

Lastly, Norma is another supermarket in Germany you need to visit! Known as a food discount store, Norma, like Aldi and Lidl, is on a mission to offer high-quality food at unbelievably low prices. In fact, since they opened their first store in Germany, Norma has continued to open more than 1,400 stores globally in France, Austria, and even the Czech Republic.

In the video above, you’ll also notice that with Norma you are even able to eat a healthy and balanced diet with the products they provide. The products themselves are even cheap to buy so that you don’t have to break the bank.

So, if you’re looking for a supermarket in Germany where you can buy cheap and healthy food, I highly recommend Norma. You’ll get a lot of healthy food with your money there which you can use to make all different kinds of recipes.

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Overall, I really hope you enjoyed reading this post on the 8 top supermarkets in Germany you need to visit! Please let me know in the comments down below which supermarket you’d like to visit the most. I would love to hear from you! 🙂

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