The team at Udo Ridders' store on Cologne's Eigelstein is as diverse as its customers. A role model for diversity in practice - and a good start to this year's Diversity Month at REWE Group. We asked his team to tell us what makes working at REWE Ridders so special.
Over 50 employees, from the very first employee to the newcomer, half a dozen nationalities, united in people with the most diverse biographies and life plans: It is a colourful team in the best sense of the word that keeps Udo Ridders' REWE store running. As colourful and diverse as the Eigelstein, the street near Cologne's main railway station, which gave its name to an entire district and in the middle of which the REWE store is located. We wanted to find out from its boss and his employees: How do the store and the people come together? What is the secret of living together? What makes working in this store with its different characters so special? Here are their answers.
Udo Ridders, boss: "When I took over the store, I had just come out of the closet. The customers thought it was great to be so open and honest. I think that was the big step in the collaboration. Over the years, we got to know various people, for example from the 'Startreff' (a travesty theatre nearby, editor's note). During the Corona period, the artists had problems there because they weren't allowed to perform anywhere, everything was closed. One or two of them came to us as temporary help.
Diversity is not a statement for us, but a matter of course. Homophobia is not an issue at all here on the Eigelstein. On the contrary: there has always been acceptance. There is a strong sense of solidarity. We maintain good contacts with associations and initiatives that look after people who have travelled here. When the question of an internship comes up, they always think of REWE Ridders. This is how new people keep coming to us. For some, this can be the starting signal for a new career. In the beginning, when the language barrier is too high, I mainly deploy the employees in the warehouse. The main thing is that the work is fun. I myself still spend a lot of time in the store, actively working. I'm one of those people, I have to be at the front. I can then demand what I do from my employees."
Fernando Bastos, temp: "I was born in Brazil and have lived in Germany for 32 years. Before I worked here, I was a customer. I'm a queer DJ, that's my main job. I couldn't do my job during the coronavirus period, everything was closed. I didn't want to wait for better times and applied for a job at Ridders. I've been here since 2021. The environment and the working hours are completely different to what I'm used to as a DJ. The work is a lot of fun. I had no problem integrating at all. Everyone has their own view of life, and that's a good thing, we all get along really well. You just have to accept and respect each other. It's a cultural exchange, we learn a lot from each other. We've even made friends, some of my colleagues come to the parties when I perform as a drag queen."
Ghiath Hobbi, deputy/closing operator: "I came to Germany from Damascus in 2015 and have been with Ridders for five years. I really enjoy working here, it's my second home. I think it's great that you have so much contact with customers and colleagues at work. It was a bit difficult at the beginning because I didn't know all the customers and colleagues yet. I invested in my language skills and further training at the vocational college, which helped me a lot. The market is also an integration centre because you work with many different nationalities here. You exchange ideas about the different cultures that everyone brings with them."
Metin Kir, store manager: "I was a customer at Ridders with my mum as a child. We always enjoyed shopping there because of the atmosphere and the employees of Turkish origin. When I was looking for an internship in the ninth grade, the REWE store was literally just around the corner, so I did my first internship here when I was fifteen. I liked the relaxed atmosphere and the colourful variety. It's important for me to be recognised and respected by the employees. For me, that's the key to good, successful collaboration. Whether the team is large or small, you have to stand together. I learnt that from Mr Ridders. The team is like a solid wall that holds the building together: family-like, we look out for each other. We try to be there for each other and solve any problems that arise together. Mr Ridders was and is always there for us. Conversely, we are Udo Ridders' family."
Maria Riccio de DiMarco, Mopro department: "I came here from Ecuador 24 years ago. I didn't speak much German back then, was looking for a job and contacted Mr Ridders in 2001. Today I realise I was lucky: with the boss and with the company. I look after dairy and convenience products, tidy up and restock. I like doing the job. The work is fun because the boss is a great person and spreads a good atmosphere. I've got to know a lot of people from many different nationalities here and have never had any problems. It's like a second family."
The store
In 1997, Udo Ridders started his own REWE store, initially at Eigelstein 50-51, the location of today's PENNY store. in 2006, the store moved to number 80-88, where a Globus hypermarket had previously been located. There, Ridders and his team occupy 1,800 square metres of retail space spread over two floors. 
Diversity e-learning courses launched
Employees now have the opportunity to find out more in two new online training courses on the topics of "LGBTIQ" and "Employees with severe disabilities". The courses are aimed in particular at all senior managers, but are also available to other colleagues as voluntary courses in the PRIMUS catalogue.
