In the 2023 business year, REWE Group in Austria with BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY, BIPA, ADEG and Travel and Tourism increased its total gross turnover (retail and tourism) by 9.6 per cent to €10.45 billion.
The food retail business segment (BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY, ADEG) achieved an increase in turnover of 9.1 per cent, while drugstore retail (BIPA) grew by 13.2 per cent. REWE Group invested €371 million in Austria in 2023, and the number of employees rose by 539 to 47,176, including around 2,300 apprentices.
BILLA generated sales growth of 8.6 per cent in 2023, despite another difficult market environment. "Last year, we once again came a step closer to our goal of becoming the No. 1 for customers. Especially with our own brands, initiatives such as 'Fair zum Tier' and the largest plant-based range in Austria, we offer our customers an affordable, fair and sustainable shopping experience," emphasises Management Board member Marcel Haraszti. bILLA celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023 and around 10 million customers shop at BILLA every week. "I am proud to be part of the BILLA family, which has been close to the people of Austria for over 70 years. Whether it's affordable food, better husbandry conditions for farm animals or climate protection - as one of the largest local suppliers in the country, we take the needs of our customers seriously and fulfil our pioneering role in many areas - from plant-based to animal welfare," says Haraszti.
BILLA set a milestone in 2022 with Pflanzilla, Europe's first store of a traditional food retailer with a purely plant-based range, followed by a Pflanzilla pop-up store in Graz in 2023 with more than 2,000 products in its range. BILLA PLUS also boasts the largest plant-based range in Austria, which is becoming attractive to an ever-growing customer base thanks to price reductions.
Another milestone was reached last year with the successful expansion of the BILLA retailers model to ten locations - including the first BILLA Kauffrau in Vienna's 21st district and the first BILLA PLUS Kaufmann. "The retailers model is an important strategic pillar in terms of customer orientation. With this concept, we are a strong partner at the side of our retailers, who strengthen awareness of the region and its people with customised offers in their stores," says Haraszti.
PENNY with 11.0 per cent increase in turnover
PENNY Austria increased its revenue by 11.0 per cent in 2023. This means that the anniversary year 2023 was not only pleasing due to PENNY's 20th anniversary, but also very successful economically. Increased investment in the store network led to the opening of six additional locations.
BIPA revenue grows by 13.2 per cent
BIPA recorded further sales growth in 2023 with an increase of 13.2 per cent to 939.0 million euros. Increased investment was made in the store network with 9 new stores and 13 refurbishments. The "Red Box" was a successful initiative last year. The joint project with the City of Vienna makes an important contribution to more equal opportunities in the healthcare sector and in the fight against period poverty.
REWE Wholesale Austria with growth of 9.5 per cent
The REWE wholesale business includes the supply of ADEG retailers, petrol station shops and cooperation partners. Revenue grew by 9.5 per cent (adjusted for discontinued operations AGM). The expansion strategy (investment volume of around EUR 17 million in 2023) of recent years in the wholesale sector in particular has strengthened the local presence. The transfer of retailers to ADEG expands the network and sustainably strengthens REWE Group's position at the local level.
Travel and Tourism
The travel industry has recovered from the crises. Total Travel and Tourism turnover rose by 18.8 per cent to 210.4 million euros in 2023.
Investment offensive continued
REWE Group has set itself the goal of actively contributing to climate protection and the mobility transition through efficient measures. For example, additional shops as well as warehouse and Central locations are being equipped with photovoltaic systems and e-charging stations. "In order to be able to offer our customers a modern shopping experience, we continue to pay particular attention to achieving the best possible ecological effects for the surrounding neighbourhoods and communities when renovating and building new stores," emphasised the REWE International AG Management Board member. This ranges from optimised space and resource requirements, the highest possible energy efficiency and ecological construction methods to the integration of the respective store into sustainable mobility concepts.
Position as a top employer strengthened
As one of the largest employers in the country, with a total of 47,176 employees, REWE Group offers a wide range of career opportunities and crisis-proof jobs for people of all ages and backgrounds. The focus is on various work and training models, explains Haraszti: "We are also pushing ahead with the expansion of our training centres in 2024. In addition, potential employees will be addressed in an even more target group-oriented manner in order to strengthen our position as a popular employer in Austria." To counteract the shortage of apprentices in particular, BILLA 2023 has rethought the search for young talent and toured Austria with an innovative truck.
50 million euros: Record amount of food donations
REWE Group's retail companies donated more food than ever before in 2023: for the first time, products worth around 50 million euros were donated to social and charitable organisations.
Outlook 2024
REWE Group will continue its clear focus on animal welfare, plant-based enjoyment, Sustainability and social responsibility in 2024. In addition, the modernisation of the store network in Austria will continue. "Our employees in the BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY, BIPA and ADEG stores ensure that our customers throughout Austria are supplied with everyday products. As REWE Group, we will do everything we can in 2024 to continue on this successful path of recent years," says Haraszti.
*** English Version ***
In 2023, the REWE Group in Austria with BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY, BIPA, ADEG and tourism increased its total gross turnover (retail and tourism) by 9.6% to € 10.45 billion.
The food retail unit (BILLA, PENNY, ADEG) achieved an increase in turnover of 9.1 per cent, while the drugstore business unit (BIPA) grew by 13.2 per cent. REWE Group invested € 371 million in Austria in 2023, the number of employees rose by 539 to 47,176 of which around 2,300 are apprentices.
BILLA and BILLA PLUS were able to increase turnover by 8.8% in 2023, despite another difficult market environment. "Last year, we came a step closer to our goal of being the No. 1 for customers. Particularly with our private label strategy, initiatives such as "Fair zum Tier" and the largest plant-based assortment in Austria, we want to offer our customers an affordable, fair and sustainable shopping experience," emphasises Board Member Marcel Haraszti. BILLA celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023 and about 10 million customers shop at BILLA every week.
"I am proud to be part of the BILLA family that has been close to the people of Austria for over 30 years. Whether it's affordable food, better conditions for keeping farm animals or climate protection - as one of the largest local suppliers in the country, we take the needs of our customers seriously and are living up to our pioneering role in many areas - from plant-based to animal welfare," says Haraszti.
BILLA set a milestone in 2022 with Pflanzilla, Europe's first store from a traditional food retailer with a purely plant-based range, followed by a Pflanzilla pop-up store in Graz in 2023 with more than 2,000 products in its assortment. BILLA PLUS also boasts the largest plant-based range in Austria, which is becoming attractive to an ever-growing customer base thanks to price reductions.
With the successful expansion of the BILLA Kaufleute model to ten locations - including the first BILLA Kauffrau in Vienna's 21st district and the first BILLA PLUS Kaufmann - another milestone was reached last year. "The Kaufleute model is an important strategic pillar in terms of customer centricity. With this concept, we are a strong partner at the side of our retailers, who strengthen awareness of the region and its people in their stores with tailor-made offers," says Haraszti.
PENNY with 11.0 per cent increase in turnover
PENNY Austria was able to increase turnover by 11.0 percent in 2023. This means that the anniversary year 2023 was not only pleasing due to PENNY's 20th anniversary, but also very successful economically. Increased investment in the store network led to the opening of six additional locations.
BIPA sales grow by 13.2 per cent
BIPA recorded further sales growth in 2023 with an increase of 13.2 percent to € 939.0 million. Increased investment was made in the store network with 9 new stores and 13 renovations. The "Red Box" was a successful initiative last year. The joint project with the City of Vienna contributes to more equal opportunities in the healthcare sector and in the fight against "period poverty".
REWE Wholesale Austria with an increase of 9.5 per cent
The REWE wholesale business includes the distribution to ADEG retailers, petrol station stores and cooperation partners. Turnover grew by 9.5 per cent (adjusted for discontinued operations AGM). The expansion strategy (investment volume of around € 17 million in 2023) of recent years in the wholesale sector in particular has strengthened the local presence. The transfer of some retailers to ADEG expands the network and sustainably strengthens REWE Group's position at the local level.
Tourism
The travel industry has recovered from the crises. Total tourism turnover rose by 18.8% to € 210.4 million in 2023.
Investment offensive continued
REWE Group has set itself the goal of actively contributing to climate protection and the mobility transition through efficient measures. For example, additional stores as well as warehouse and central locations are being equipped with photovoltaic systems and e-charging stations. "In order to be able to offer our customers a modern shopping experience, we continue to pay particular attention to achieving the best possible ecological effects for the surrounding neighbourhoods and communities when renovating and building new stores," emphasised the REWE International AG Management Board member. This ranges from optimised space and resource requirements, the highest possible energy efficiency and ecological construction methods to the integration of the respective store into sustainable mobility concepts.
Strengthened position as a top employer
As one of the largest employers in the country, with a total of 47,176 employees, REWE Group offers a wide range of career opportunities and crisis-proof jobs for people of all ages and backgrounds. The focus is on various work and training models, explains Haraszti: "We are also pushing ahead with the expansion of our training centres in 2024. In addition, potential employees will be addressed in an even more target group-oriented manner in order to strengthen our position as a popular employer in Austria." To counteract the shortage of apprentices in particular, BILLA 2023 has taken a new approach to the search for young talent and toured Austria with an innovative truck.
50 million euros: a record amount of food donations
REWE Group's business units in Austria donated more food than ever before in 2023: for the first time, products worth around € 50 million were donated to social and charitable organisations.
Forecast 2024
REWE Group will continue its clear focus on animal welfare, plant-based food, sustainability and social responsibility in 2024. In addition, the modernisation of the store network in Austria will continue. "Our employees in the BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY, BIPA and ADEG stores ensure that our customers throughout Austria are well supplied with everyday products. As REWE Group, we will do everything we can in 2024 to continue on this successful path of recent years," says Haraszti.
