
The Generali Cologne Marathon has been the sporting running highlight of the cathedral city for years. After a three-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, around 25,000 participants will return to the starting line on 2 October. Among them are once again employees from all REWE Group business units throughout Germany. REWE Group is catering for the participants during the run and behind the finish line to ensure that everyone can keep going at the Cologne Marathon.
The cooperative group has once again put together this year's catering commitment in the REWE Group catering village and at the REWE catering points along the route with a focus on sustainability, seasonality and regionality. This is because the organisers of the Cologne Marathon are committed to Sustainability.
The REWE Group's "marathon menu" includes 50,000 Rainforest Alliance / PRO PLANET-certified Chiquita bananas, 25,000 Rainforest Alliance-certified muesli bars from PENNY, 5.000 regional PRO PLANET-certified apples from Krings in Rheinbach, 4,000 litres of Naturland-certified REWE organic apple juice, 1,000 PRO PLANET-certified pears - also from Krings, as well as up to 300 mini cucumbers and 70 kg of carrots from Landgard in the region.
As in previous years, the surplus food from the running event will be donated to the Kölner Tafel food bank.
"Hundreds of running employees and a company that fully supports our sustainability strategy with its regional and certified products. The well-stocked REWE Group catering village enjoys a legendary reputation in the running community. This is how I imagine a partnership," says Markus Frisch, Managing Director and Race Director of Köln Marathon Veranstaltungs- und Werbe GmbH.
REWE delivery service back on board
The REWE delivery service is once again providing logistical support for the marathon. Vehicles from the REWE delivery service will drive in front of the leading group and transport the marathon runners' own catering, among other things.
Motivation boost at the "Hammer Mile"
The last few kilometres are dreaded by many half-marathon and marathon runners and some fall into a motivational hole. That's why REWE and toom Baumarkt DIY store at Mediapark (kilometre 17 for half marathon runners; kilometre 28 for marathon runners) are organising a colourful programme with music to help participants "get back on their feet" REWE's Torhunger food truck will have lots of tasty tasting portions ready for hot-spot visitors.
REWE Group employees run for a good cause
In 2019, REWE donated one euro to HistiozytoseHilfe e.V. for every kilometre run by its employees: 460 target runners covered around 8,000 kilometres. Once again this year, REWE Group is donating one euro to the association for every kilometre run by REWE Group employees.
REWE Group with its own preparation programme for the Cologne Marathon
In order to reach the finish line healthy and safe, REWE Group employees prepare for the marathon every year with the company's own Fit.net programme, supervised by the CoE Health & Innovation. The mas institute from Cologne provides support: REWE Group runners receive special performance diagnostics, an individual training plan based on this and train in small guided running groups depending on their performance level. In addition, REWE Group runners can receive tips and tricks from professional long-distance runners at various running events and start the Cologne Marathon with a high-quality running shirt. in 2019, REWE Group was by far the largest group of company runners with 460 finishers.