The "Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Einkaufsgenossenschaften" - ADEG for short - is 130 years old. The more than 180 retailers prove that co-operatives combine bold innovations with strong regional roots. Since 2006, they have shared a common foundation of values with the REWE Group that is deeply rooted in the REWE Group's co-operative tradition.
In 1895, committed retailers in Styria founded a purchasing cooperative - the beginning of a success story that continues to this day. in 1929, 15 regional co-operatives united to form the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Einkaufsgenossenschaften" - ADEG for short. What began with the aim of jointly creating better purchasing conditions developed over the decades into an indispensable pillar for local supply in Austria - and the oldest still existing purchasing co-operative in the country. Over the years, ADEG retailers have repeatedly demonstrated a pioneering spirit: they were among the first to include frozen food in their range, promoted self-service in retail and established innovative local supply concepts.
The beginning of a new era
a new era began in 2006 with the entry of the REWE Group: Rewe initially took over 24.9 % of the shares in ADEG Österreich Handels-AG. In the years that followed, this stake was expanded until ADEG was fully integrated into REWE International AG. This gives ADEG a strong partner in European retail, which promotes the independence of ADEG retailers and at the same time offers the backing of an international group.
Today, ADEG is represented throughout Austria with around 360 locations and around 2,300 employees - as a local supplier, social meeting point and centrepiece of many communities. 
Adeg Wechselberger
ADEG retailers are constantly demonstrating their innovative strength: they are rethinking retail, constantly modernising their stores and providing targeted impetus for greater Sustainability. One example of this is the hybrid stores - a forward-looking step that does not come at the expense of jobs, but supports employees in their day-to-day work and enables more flexible opening hours for customers. "Our retailers are not only rooted in the region, they are also courageous shapers of change," says Florian Klein, Managing Director of REWE Wholesale. "Every day, they show how modern local supply works - responsibly, future-orientated and always close to the people."
And anyone who has been around for 130 years knows how to stay true to their roots and move with the times at the same time - by outgrowing themselves and always providing surprises: be it in the product range, in services or through social commitment in the community. Two retailers are representative of the strong and close-knit ADEG community.
ADEG saleswoman Tanja Ebersberger from St. Marein in the Wolfsberg district. ©REWE Großhandel GmbH/WNSP_Konstantin Reyer
Alexander Maier, ADEG merchant from Ebenthal in Carinthia. ©REWE Großhandel GmbH/WNSP_Konstantin Reyer
Alexander Maier, for example, who opened his first store in 2021 at the age of just 27, is now a two-time ADEG Kaufmann - bold, ambitious and full of ideas. Tanja Ebersberger runs her ADEG store and café with a close relationship with customers and employees - inspired by her father, who spent his entire working life at ADEG. Markus Stubauer is also the fourth generation behind the till at his family business in Maria Neustift - a place where people know each other and shopping with friends has long been a reality.
We are not only celebrating 130 years of company history, but above all those who bring it to life every day - with personal commitment, responsibility and genuine proximity to the region.
The foundation stone for ADEG is laid by a group of Styrian retailers who join forces to form a purchasing cooperative. Their goal: better purchasing conditions through joint action. This model becomes a model for similar organisations in other federal states and marks the beginning of a success story that continues to this day.
In order to further pool their strengths and increase their competitive advantage, the purchasing cooperatives operating in Austria merge to form an umbrella organisation. With this step, the brand name ADEG is also introduced - an acronym for Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Einkaufsgenossenschaften. Although these are difficult economic times, ADEG sends out a strong signal in favour of cooperation and cohesion.
Despite the difficult post-war years, ADEG continues to grow after the Second World War: 21 purchasing co-operatives are now united, supplying over 4,500 shops throughout Austria. These in turn supply around one million consumers - a significant contribution to stabilising the supply situation in the post-war period. Warehouses throughout Austria - from Vienna to Graz to Bregenz - secure the flow of goods.
A significant step for the organisational structure: Großeinkauf Waldviertler Kaufleute reg. Gen.m.b.H. merges with ADEG Österreich reg.Gen.m.b.H. As a result, ADEG develops more and more from a pure umbrella organisation into an independent player in the retail sector - an important milestone on the way to becoming a modern trading company.
One of the largest reorganisations in the company's history: several cooperatives from Baden, Linz and Wels are integrated into ADEG Österreich reg. Gen.m.b.H.. ADEG Österreich Handels-AG is subsequently created - the operational business of the wholesale trade is transferred to the new public limited company as a contribution in kind. ADEG thus creates the basis for further growth and the professionalisation of the trade.
In the following years, ADEG continues its policy of bundling: co-operatives from different federal states are gradually integrated. in 1992, only the large cooperative ADEG Austria and the independent ADEG Wolfsberg e.Gen. remain - an important step towards standardising structures
In the mid-1990s, ADEG is a major player in the Austrian food retail sector: the Group has seven wholesale stores, 109 own branches and around 1,388 ADEG shops with around 9,400 employees. Annual sales totalled an impressive (at the time) 30 billion Austrian schillings - ADEG was firmly anchored in the regions and strengthened local supply.
A new era begins with the entry of the REWE Group: Rewe initially acquires 24.9 % of the shares in ADEG Österreich Handels-AG. In the following years, this stake is expanded until ADEG is fully integrated into Rewe International AG. ADEG thus gains a strong partner in European retail.
ADEG has been a brand of Rewe Großhandel GmbH since October 2022. It supports around 180 independent ADEG retailers throughout Austria with customised concepts, own brands and innovative services. ADEG remains what it has always been: a reliable partner for regional local supply with a heart that is firmly anchored in the communities.
