Whether in service, self-service or a combination of both - a well-run flower department is not only visually appealing. Lebensmittelpraxis has now honoured the best in the country. REWE dominated the competition.
In the race for the best flower departments, REWE came out on top in almost all categories this year. Here are the winning stores in the individual categories:
Flower arrangement at REWE Gippert.
Up to 99 square metres self-service and service
At REWE Gippert in Northeim, all roads lead to flowers and plants: An impressive floral display in front of the store arouses desire. The area is dominated by seasonal plants. This continues to the left and right of the entrance; in the entrance itself, flowering plants and decorative items are displayed on a wooden shelf. Only then does the actual specialised department follow, "which can compete with any flower shop in terms of selection, freshness and presentation", according to Lebensmittelpraxis. Services such as planting and event floristry round off the offer.
View of the REWE Centre Darmstadt.
100 to 199 square metres of self-service and service
There is no way around flowers in the Darmstadt REWE Centre on Leydheckerstraße. The large assortment is on display in the vestibule and entrance area. Individual flowers, ready-made bouquets, potted flowers, gift arrangements, cacti, orchids, palms and matching accessories are available. Decorations for various occasions, planting and the creation of flower arrangements appeal to customers. But the icing on the cake is the staff, who impress with their expertise and friendliness.
Blooming landscape in Bopfingen.
Over 200 square metres of self-service and service
The motto of the department "Flowers are nature's most beautiful words" is not only in the advertising of the REWE store in Bopfingen, it is lived on site and experienced with all the senses. The store achieves this with its wide range of ready-made bouquets, individual flowers, gift items, accessories, seeds and potted plants. Individual cut flowers are kept in a separate refrigerated room behind glass. "The abundance of goods is impressive, the signposting is exemplary," was the verdict of the judges.
REWE dominates this time
REWE dominated this industry competition in general, as most of the other places were also dominated by the colours red and white. Daniela Fischer and her REWE store in Ettersberg won silver in the "Best self-service flower department" category. REWE Bluhm in Walsrode and the REWE Center an der Badstraße in Berlin, both of which entered the race in the "Self-service with 100 to 199 square metres" category, won two silver medals. The REWE Center in Hamburg-Tonndorf took second place in the "Self-service with service over 200 square metres" category. And the REWE store on Karl-Methe-Straße in Göttingen also made it onto the podium in the same category with a bronze placing.
The competition for the "Best Flower Department" is organised in two phases. The trade journal Lebensmittelpraxis (LP) calls for entries and the stores apply. The categories are determined from the applications. New this year was the "Best Flower Department in Service".
Figures such as revenue per customer and per square metre of sales area decide which applicants are nominated for the final round. In the second part, the departments - three stores per category remain - are visited anonymously. The testers observe what is happening in the store, make purchases and ask questions. The results from parts one and two lead to the final result, whereby the decision is sometimes extremely close, according to LP.
