At the centre of life, close to people: In our film series, we present impressive REWE Group retailers - strong personalities who have led their stores to success with an individual signature and a common sales concept. Their stories are as diverse as they are - and yet they are united by a common foundation of values that is deeply rooted in REWE Group's co-operative tradition. Today's portrait: REWE saleswoman Kathrin Gödecke.
in 1927, 17 food wholesale cooperatives agreed to merge into one strong organisation, marking the birth of REWE. Just as old, and in some cases even older, are the stories of individual families of retailers who have been running their stores for generations. One of these families is that of REWE merchant Kathrin Gödecke. They have been supplying their customers in the region since 1900 - Kathrin Gödecke is the fourth generation to take over the stores and the next generation is already waiting in the wings.
Over 100 years of tradition: insights into the history of the Gödecke family.
"I am committed to the location in order to give something back to the region." This connection to the region and the Ruhr area is palpable as soon as you enter Kathrin Gödecke's stores - she gives her REWE stores a personal touch with features and language elements in the style of mining. In addition to her work as a businesswoman, she is also involved in voluntary work in the region, chairs the regional committee of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Bottrop, represents her views in both local and federal politics and even acts as a commercial judge at Essen District Court.
The co-operative has contributed to the success of the Gödecke family in many ways. It impressively demonstrates how business can be conducted across generations and how important constant cohesion and mutual support are - within the family, among the retailers and throughout the entire cooperative.
