There was a great atmosphere and plenty of excitement among the 500 guests in Frankfurt's Palmengarten, as it was unclear until the very last second who would be honoured with the coveted title.

The "Team of the Year" title went to REWE salesman Dietmar Tönnies and his 65-strong store team from Odenthal. "Store Manager of the Year" went to store manager Debora Agelidu from the REWE store on Widdersdorfer Straße in Cologne. "Store Manager of the Year" is Dunja Storck from the REWE Centre in Egelsbach. Daniel Averbeck from the REWE store in Kranenburg secured the title of "Young Entrepreneur of the Year". In the same category, Frank Glawe took bronze in Berlin.

For Dunja Storck, the award presented by Lebensmittelzeitung is already the second prize this year. In April, she and her team were named "Supermarket of the Year" in the category for chain stores with a sales area of over 3,000 square metres. The store manager loves her job. she moved from the south-west region to the REWE Centre in Egelsbach in 2022 and has been with REWE since 1985. As a manager, she likes to lend a hand and knows exactly where to find what in the shop. The daily tour of the store is a must for her. She has an open ear for everyone and knows how to inspire her team of 210 employees. Regular employee events are just as much a part of her job as listening, giving feedback and talking. Storck is a team player: decisions are discussed in and with the team.

"Border crosser" with great success
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: REWE businessman Daniel Averbeck (Photo: Reinhard Rosendahl/LZ direkt) REWE merchant Daniel Averbeck grew up in a family of merchants, knows the business from the ground up, but goes his own way - and with great success. His motto: "If you look back too often, you forget to write history in the future." And that is exactly what characterises him: The jury calls him "determined, ambitious and courageous". Even as a young boy, he was already working in his parents' shop. "Retail is a piece of home for me. Food in particular fascinates me every day," says the 35-year-old. he completed his apprenticeship at REWE in 2008, became self-employed in 2021 and opened his first REWE store in Kranenburg in 2022 - in close proximity to the Netherlands. He uses this as a locational advantage: he operates nationwide, communicates in two languages and thus attracts numerous customers from the neighbouring country in addition to his loyal clientele from the Kleve district. With this concept, he far exceeded the planned sales expectations in 2022 and 2023. Together with his team of over 80 people, he has the 2,800 square metre store with over 22,000 items fully under control. "The team is the foundation of our success," emphasises Daniel Averbeck.

Personal initiative and responsibility

"Once again, we owe this valuable award to our fantastic employees from twelve nations. We encourage their high level of motivation and initiative right from the start by giving them a high degree of personal responsibility, from trainees to department managers. Our customers appreciate the warm and competent service and the human encounters in our store," commented Dietmar Tönnies on his store winning the award in the "Team of the Year" category.The 820 square metre supermarket (plus 330 square metre beverage store) employs 55 full and part-time staff who look after 14,000 different items. Almost 10,000 customers a week are delighted with the dedicated service.

In addition to the festive awards ceremony, intensive dialogue and good discussions, the industry get-together in the Palmengarten also offered plenty of inspiration for seasoned retail professionals. Among the top speakers were Semai Akale and Jennifer Kattwinkel, two of REWE's own. The former, a REWE saleswoman in Mainz, explained why she always wanted to be her own boss. And store manager Jennifer Kattwinkel revealed how she turns customers and employees into fans.

Because despite all the success, the old adage applies: you never stop learning.

Successful evening: the newly awarded supermarket stars, photo: Reinhard Rosendahl/LZ direkt