The rollout of the ZooRoyal stores marks the beginning of a new chapter in REWE's history. In addition to sales assistants and retailers, we will soon be welcoming completely new, exciting job profiles among our colleagues. Whether it's a pet hairdresser, aquarist or category manager for dog beds and cat scratching posts: in our "Animal dream jobs" series, we introduce you to ZooRoyal colleagues who have turned their passion into a profession and show you how diverse working with and for animals can be.
From 2026, ZooRoyal - REWE Group's modern pet supplies retailer - will be rolling out its own bricks-and-mortar speciality stores across Germany. What has so far mainly generated enthusiasm online and in REWE and PENNY stores will then also be experienced locally: a modern store concept, a wide range of specialist pet supplies - and, above all, people who put their heart and expertise into their work.
28-year-old Tim Heiler has been working in his dream job since 2016:
He is an aquarist. He is head of the aquatics department at Ivica Pobric's ZooRoyal store in Norderstedt. There he combines work with the subject that has fascinated him since childhood: the underwater world.
Whether at his grandparents', his father's or among his friends - there was always an aquarium somewhere in Tim's environment, so he was fascinated by fish and underwater plants from an early age. Tim started his career by training as a retail salesman in a pet shop. During his training, he was able to turn his hobby into a career and specialised in aquariums.
When REWE and ZooRoyal opened the first stationary speciality store in Norderstedt in 2022 with salesman Ivica Pobric, Tim was immediately impressed by ZooRoyal's new, innovative concept.
Today, he and his team are responsible for feeding and caring for the fish, keeping tanks and exhibits clean and free of algae and ensuring the right water quality and temperature. Unlike aquarists who work in zoos, for example, advising customers is an important task for the aquatics department in Norderstedt. Contact with people is a big part of the appeal of Tim's job. "Whether it's someone focussing on individual animal species or much more on the plants in the aquarium - the variety makes it exciting". This is also a real benefit for salesman Ivica Pobric: "Tim lives and breathes his profession and this is also recognised by the customers. Customers sometimes drive a few kilometres to us for professional advice."
Today, Tim Heiler and his team are responsible for feeding and caring for the fish. Photos: ©Laura Lam, Simone Holtzhausen
Working for ZooRoyal is a stroke of luck for Tim Heiler.
Business Manager Ivica Pobric supports him in regularly attending further training courses and flexibly implementing trends. "Hobby aquarists are often very tech-savvy. It's important to me to always be able to offer our customers the latest innovations, such as smart aquariums with automated feeding systems." For Tim, one thing is clear: being an aquarist is not just a job, it's a vocation. And anyone who sets up an aquarium themselves will immediately understand why the enthusiasm is infectious.
