At Green Week 2026 (16-25 January, Berlin), REWE Group clearly focused on its partnership-based cooperation with local agriculture. At the trade fair stand, we presented initiatives that strengthen transparent supply chains and promote fair cooperation - including new three-party models in the vegetable and dairy sectors. There was also an award for Emilie Bourgoin, Group Director Public Affairs and Chairwoman of REWE Group's Competence Centre Agriculture.
Direct dialogue with our domestic agricultural sector is more important than ever. At this year's Green Week in Berlin, REWE Group once again demonstrated that a tangible course for sustainable agriculture in Germany can only be set through even stronger joint commitment from all players along the value chain.
Focus on partnership with local agriculture
REWE and PENNY are among the pioneers in the German food retail sector when it comes to designing product ranges with regional and local products. Both sales lines work directly with over 30,000 local producers and are continuously expanding these partnerships. At this year's Green Week, the world's leading trade fair for food, agriculture and horticulture, REWE Group put this cooperation centre stage.
"With our presence at the trade fair, we made it clear what counts for us: open dialogue, transparent processes and reliable, long-term partnerships. Our guiding principle 'From the value chain to the value chain' has been with us since last year. After all, value appreciation for agriculture is not a snapshot, but a permanent task that we want to continue to drive forward together with our partners along the entire chain - from the field to the stores," says Luca Burwitz, Manager Public Affairs REWE Group.
Three-party models: partnerships at eye level
The partners in the tripartite agreement, which enables cooperation on an equal footing and creates a clear, binding and long-term basis for fair collaboration. From left to right: Johannes von Eerde (Landfrisch AG), Labinot Elshani (Landfrisch AG), Markus von Bobenhausen (REWE Group), Dr Carolin Weyers (REWE Group), Marc Rademacher (REWE Group), Heinz Stoffers (Stoffers Gemüsebau), Christian Berghs-Trienekens (BT Gemüse). © REWE Group
REWE Group relies on transparent and reliable partnerships between retailers, producer organisations and agricultural businesses. Three-party contracts enable co-operation on an equal footing and create a clear, binding and long-term basis for fair cooperation.
During the Green Week, REWE Group, together with Landfrisch AG and the vegetable companies Stoffers and BT Gemüse, launched a unique three-party model for the vegetable sector. The aim is to create more transparency, reliability and planning security for all partners involved and to support the modern further development of the businesses.
PENNY is also continuing its tried-and-tested three-party model in the dairy sector: together with "Die faire Milch" and FairFood eG, a new Gouda will be launched in stores from March 2026 under the Lindenhof private label. The pricing follows clear principles: All price components, surcharges to strengthen farmers' incomes and costs for quality and animal welfare are transparently disclosed and contractually stipulated.
REWE Group has already introduced other three-party contracts for dairy and meat products in the past - and will gradually expand them. With these models, it is taking on a pioneering role in the German food retail sector and sending a strong signal in favour of reliability and Sustainability along the entire value chain.
Innovation driver for modern local supply
As a driver of innovation, REWE Group develops and tests new formats for local supply and shows how modern technologies can close gaps in supply - in cities as well as in rural regions. These include REWE Lieferbot 2.0, which is currently on the road in Hamburg-Eimsbüttel, and the Wingcopter delivery drone, which delivered groceries to the surrounding area of Michelstadt in Hesse as part of a pilot project. Both projects were presented at the Green Week stand and illustrate how REWE Group is working with creative, future-oriented concepts to develop customised solutions for different regions.
Emilie Bourgoin, Director of Public Affairs and Chairwoman of the REWE Group's Competence Centre for Agriculture, received the French Chevalier de l'ordre du mérite agricole from the French Ambassador to Germany, François Delattre, on 20 January. The award ceremony took place in front of almost 200 guests in a festive setting at the residence of the French Embassy in Berlin.
Emilie Bourgoin's commitment to agriculture is exemplary of what REWE Group focuses on at the Green Week: a living culture of appreciation along the entire agricultural value chain. For more than two decades, she has been committed to ensuring that sustainable developments are created in close cooperation with all those involved - and that partnerships are sustainable if they are transparent, reliable and long-term.
"In your role, you have facilitated dialogues that cannot be taken for granted - between politics, business and society. And you have always shown that sustainable value creation only works if we act together," said REWE Group CEO Lionel Souque in recognition of Emilie Bourgoin's commitment.
Emilie Bourgoin: "I am delighted to receive this award! It is also very important to me to say that this is also an honour for REWE Group, which is always boldly breaking new ground and working together with its partners on innovative solutions. This is not the standard. I'm proud of that - and we can all be."