Simon Offermann Simon Offermann: My grandfather and my uncles had a grocery shop. Even as a child, I was preoccupied with the question: How do the goods get to the market, why is what located where? In 2000, I also started my training as a wholesale and foreign trade merchant after leaving school. I then immediately got an exciting job in central purchasing. After that, I kept going, even the product groups changed. I was always supported by very good colleagues and superiors. i moved to the PENNY division in 2010 and was able to help shape the success story there. In the year in which PENNY was in the black, I was asked if I would like to move to the REWE division. And as soon as I arrived here, I was faced with completely new challenges that I had never faced before, from coronavirus to the Ukraine crisis.

one: When and where did you actually meet?

Offermann : Our paths crossed in 2001, that's when we met, me as a trainee, Ingo as the boss. During the time I was at PENNY, we more or less always had mirrored product groups.

Faßbender : That was actually quite nice, we could always pass the ball to each other.

one: What are the main differences between then and now?

Faßbender: In the beginning, we were a small regional co-operative. Later, things got interesting with the grouping, with the reflagging to REWE. If today we are happy about an increase in turnover in the three-digit million range, that used to be the total turnover of a regional co-operative. These are dimensions that are crazy. One huge difference compared to the past is digitalisation. Today, we have an epic amount of data. Information about price changes comes in real time, which is a huge change.

Offermann: The nature of negotiations has also changed due to transparency. Today, we can see exactly what a product costs. In addition to the item itself, a lot of other data plays a role, such as the supplier's earnings and financial situation. Procurement has also become more international.

one: After so many years in purchasing, do you actually have something like a favourite product?

Faßbender : My favourite products were spices, vinegar and oil. You can work very strongly with emotions, that's what I enjoyed the most.

Offermann: My favourite product group is antipasti, because there are no limits to creativity and you can combine an incredible number of things. When you then find the idea you brought back from your holiday in the market at some point, it makes you a little proud. One of my hobbies is private labels, which I wrote my dissertation on developing.
Faßbender: Private labels are also fun in the job because you are challenged creatively and you can get more involved than with the brand. The products are only available at REWE and nowhere else. That's a unique selling point. You have lots of opportunities to initiate, try out and realise things, which is great.

one: Mr Faßbender, as a final question: what formative experiences from your almost 40 years at REWE will you take with you into retirement?

Faßbender: It's the mix of everything that has stuck with me. I spent ten years in foreign trade. I got to know many cultures, which was very enriching. Not forgetting the colleagues I worked with here. They were great people who had a positive influence on me personally. I am very grateful to REWE for all of this. I would never have had that in my private life. The combination of the industry, food and the development of REWE as a company was super exciting.