Online groceries
REWE
Browse food, fresh produce, drinks and household essentials. Home delivery or click-and-collect depends on the postcode and participating store.
Learn how everyday shopping works in Germany — from supermarkets and discount stores to organic food, Pfand, payment methods, opening hours and useful German vocabulary.
Germany has many different types of shops. Understanding what each one offers can help you save time, compare products and manage your everyday budget.
Everyday supermarkets offer food, drinks, household products and many other essentials in one place.
Discount supermarkets can be useful when you want to control your grocery budget while buying everyday essentials.
Organic supermarkets and specialist shops focus on products marketed as organic or sustainably produced.
Bäckereien are an important part of everyday German food culture, especially for bread, rolls and pastries.
Metzgereien or Fleischereien can be useful for fresh meat, sausages and regional products.
Wochenmärkte can offer fresh fruit, vegetables, regional products, flowers and other food items.
| Shopping Option | Useful For | Things to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarket | General weekly shopping | Wide selection and everyday essentials |
| Discount Supermarket | Budget-conscious shopping | Selection may differ from larger supermarkets |
| Organic Shop | Organic-focused shopping | Products and prices vary |
| Bakery | Bread and baked goods | Often focused on fresh daily products |
| Weekly Market | Fresh and regional products | Opening days and product selection vary |
One of the first things newcomers may notice in German supermarkets is Pfand. A deposit can be associated with certain beverage containers. Eligible containers can generally be returned through the appropriate return system, and the deposit can then be credited back according to the applicable rules.
A normal supermarket visit becomes much easier once you understand the basic process.
Make a list and decide which products you actually need.
Compare products, sizes and prices while moving through the store.
Place your products on the checkout area and prepare your preferred payment method.
Pack your groceries efficiently and remember reusable shopping bags.
Depending on the store, you may be able to pay using cash, debit cards, contactless payment or other supported methods.
Reusable shopping bags are practical and help you avoid relying on disposable bags.
Keep your receipt when you may need proof of purchase, especially for higher-value items.
Return and exchange policies depend on the product, seller and circumstances. Check the applicable conditions.
Mobile and contactless payment options may be available, depending on the shop and your bank or payment provider.
Pay attention to the displayed price, product size and applicable offers before purchasing.
Store opening hours can vary depending on the location, type of business, local regulations and the individual shop. Do not assume that every store follows the same schedule.
Sunday shopping can be different from normal weekday shopping. Many ordinary shops may be closed, while certain locations and special opening occasions can have different arrangements.
Plan your weekly grocery shopping accordingly and check the current schedule of the specific store.
German supermarket shelves contain a lot of information. Learning a few common terms makes shopping much easier.
Ingredients. Useful when checking what a product contains.
Nutritional information, usually showing values such as energy, fat, carbohydrates and protein.
Best-before information. It indicates the manufacturer's quality date under the stated storage conditions.
Use-by information used for certain perishable foods. Pay particular attention to the date and storage instructions.
Refers to organic products and the relevant organic production requirements.
Origin or source information. Useful when you want to know where a product comes from.
These words are useful when shopping for food and everyday products in Germany.
Shopping is one of the easiest ways to practice German in real life. Read product labels, learn supermarket vocabulary, understand signs, ask simple questions and practice numbers and prices.
Plan a shopping trip, keep an eye on spending, compare unit prices and estimate your bottle-deposit refund — all in one place. These tools run in your browser; your entries are not sent to Fortgang Institut.
Add groceries or household items, tick them off as you shop, then print your list or copy it for later.
Set a spending limit and enter the estimated or actual cost of your basket. The result updates when you calculate.
Package prices can be misleading. Compare the cost per kilogram, litre or another matching unit.
Estimate the deposit refund for eligible containers. Check each container's deposit and the store's return rules.
Tap a phrase to reveal its English meaning. Practise saying it aloud before your next shopping trip.
Explore supermarket websites, local store finders, grocery delivery options and household essentials. Choose a category to narrow the directory.
Browse food, fresh produce, drinks and household essentials. Home delivery or click-and-collect depends on the postcode and participating store.
Order groceries through the Picnic service in areas it covers. Check availability for your delivery postcode before planning an order.
Find a local market and check the offers available from that specific retailer. Online services vary by region and store.
Explore store information and local offers. ALDI SÜD operates in parts of Germany; check that it serves your region.
Check local store details and current promotions. ALDI Nord serves a different set of German regions from ALDI SÜD.
Use the official site for local stores and supermarket brochures. Lidl’s online shop also sells selected non-food and household products.
Find a nearby store and check the weekly brochure for food, household and other everyday offers.
Shop toiletries, personal care, cleaning products, baby products and selected household essentials.
Browse personal care, household cleaning, baby products and other drugstore essentials online or find a local branch.
Use official and established sources for consumer rights, food labels and practical life in Germany.
From your first supermarket visit to your weekly grocery routine, understanding everyday shopping makes life in Germany simpler — and gives you another opportunity to practice German.
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