Grocery shopping in Germany — discounters, Pfand, and Sunday closures

The price-tier map

Discounters dominate. Aldi (split into two regional companies — Aldi Süd in the south and west, Aldi Nord in the north and east) and Lidl run tight ranges of around 1,500 SKUs and price most basics 30–40% below Edeka or Rewe — strongest on staples, dairy, fresh produce, frozen, and own-label. Penny (REWE Group) and Netto Marken-Discount (Edeka) are second-tier discounters carrying more branded goods at slightly higher prices.

Edeka and Rewe are the two largest mid-tier supermarket chains. Both run apps with digital coupons (Rewe Bonus, Edeka Genuss+) where members see noticeably lower prices on featured items. Rewe stores tend to be cleaner and broader; Edeka has the strongest fresh ranges in many regions, especially in suburban Edeka E-centers.

Premium and hyper: Kaufland (Lidl Group) runs hypermarket-style stores with extensive ranges. Globus operates large hypermarkets in parts of west and south Germany with strong fresh counters. real is being phased out of the market.

Pfand — the deposit on every bottle

Most plastic and glass drink bottles carry a Pfand (deposit) of €0.08–0.25, refunded when you return them. Single-use plastic bottles (Einwegpfand) and metal cans are €0.25; reusable glass beer or mineral-water bottles (Mehrwegpfand) are €0.08–0.15. The deposit is included on your shop receipt as a separate line.

Return bottles to any supermarket Leergut machine — most accept any compatible bottle regardless of where it was bought. The machine prints a voucher (Pfandbon) you redeem at the till for cash or as a discount on your next shop. Budget for it on big shops; the deposit on a case of water or beer can be €5–10 alone.

Drogeriemarkt — separate from supermarkets and pharmacies

The Drogeriemarkt is a uniquely German category: cheap, large-format toiletry, baby-food, and OTC-supplement stores. dm and Rossmann are the dominant chains, with Müller a third option in many cities. Their own-label ranges (dm's Balea, alverde, dmBio; Rossmann's ISANA, Babydream) are typically 30–60% cheaper than name brands at near-identical quality.

Drogeriemärkte are not pharmacies — prescription drugs are sold only at the Apotheke (typically green plus sign). Drogerien sell food supplements, cosmetics, baby food, household cleaning, and basic groceries (snacks, drinks, frozen). Most also sell condoms, period products, and a wide selection of basic OTC remedies.

Sunday closures — plan ahead

Most German supermarkets close on Sundays under the Ladenschlussgesetz (shop closing law). Exceptions: train-station and airport supermarkets (Edeka and Rewe at major Bahnhof concourses; REWE To Go at central stations), gas-station shops, and a handful of designated "tourist days" per year per municipality.

Plan accordingly: do your weekly shop on Saturday before 20:00 (most stores close around 20:00–22:00 weekdays and 18:00–20:00 Saturdays). For a Sunday emergency, the Bahnhof supermarkets are the only reliable backup. Restaurants, bakeries, and cafés can open on Sundays — the law specifically applies to retail food shops, not hospitality.

The Wochenmarkt — weekly farmers' markets

Most German towns hold a Wochenmarkt 1–3 days a week — open-air markets where local farmers, butchers, fishmongers, cheesemakers, and bakers sell directly. Prices are slightly above supermarket level but the produce is dramatically fresher; the variety is broader (heirloom tomatoes, regional cheeses, specialty bread). Cash is still common at smaller stalls; many stalls now also accept Girocard.

In larger cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne) the bigger markets (Marktplatz, Viktualienmarkt, Isemarkt, Kollwitzplatz) double as community spaces with food stalls. They are part of weekly life for many Germans — worth integrating into your routine.

Online delivery: Rewe, Picnic, Knuspr, Flink

Rewe delivers in most cities; orders cut off the night before with a delivery slot the next day. Picnic (a Dutch import) delivers from a milk-truck fleet at supermarket prices in many cities — free delivery on orders over a low threshold. Knuspr offers same-day organic delivery in select metros.

Quick-commerce apps (Flink, the now-defunct Gorillas era) cover urban centers with 10–20 minute delivery from dark stores. Ranges are small and prices slightly above supermarket; useful for the 18:00 forgot-tomatoes situation, less so for weekly shops.

Specialty and international foods

Asia-Markets in most cities cover East and Southeast Asian groceries; Berlin has particularly strong coverage on Kantstrasse, Karl-Marx-Strasse, and around Hauptbahnhof. Türkische Supermärkte (Turkish markets) cover Middle Eastern, Balkan, and North African ingredients at very competitive prices — Berlin's Maybachufer and Kreuzberg Sonnenallee are the famous examples but every German city has them.

Bio (organic) shops — Alnatura, Denn's Biomarkt, Bio Company — carry broader organic and specialty ranges than supermarket Bio sections. Online specialist retailers (Asiamarkt24, GorillaSpices, Amazon) ship UK-wide for the cuisines whose ingredients are hard to find locally.