German Supermarkets Explained for Australians: Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and More

A complete guide to German supermarkets for Australians — what each chain sells, how the checkout works, why you need to bring a bag, and where to find Australian products.

Why German Supermarkets Feel Different

Walking into a German supermarket for the first time as an Australian is a slightly disorienting experience — not because the products are so different, but because the shopping culture is. The checkout pace is faster than anything in Australia, bags cost money, cashiers do not pack your shopping, and the range of products at some stores is surprisingly limited compared to a Coles or Woolworths. Understanding these differences before your first German supermarket visit makes the experience significantly smoother.

Germany has a mature, competitive supermarket market dominated by a handful of chains, each with a distinct positioning. Knowing which chain to use for what purpose saves time and money.

The Major German Supermarket Chains

Aldi — The German Original

What Australians know as Aldi is actually Aldi Süd — the southern German division that expanded internationally to Australia, the UK and the US. Aldi Nord operates in northern Germany. Both are owned by the same founding family but operate as completely separate companies with different product ranges.

The German Aldi stores are the template from which the Australian stores were copied — but the original has some differences. German Aldi stores are generally larger and the middle aisle special buys are a serious cultural institution. Germans plan shopping around the weekly Aldi Aktionswoche (special promotion week) for appliances, tools, clothing and seasonal items.

Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord between them cover all of Germany. Prices are among the lowest of any German supermarket. Quality of fresh produce and meat is reasonable. For Australians on a budget in Germany, Aldi is the go-to for weekly grocery shopping.

Typical basket cost: Significantly cheaper than Rewe or Edeka — budget approximately €60–€80 per week for a single person buying mainly Aldi products.

Lidl — Aldi's Main Competitor

Lidl is positioned similarly to Aldi — a discount supermarket with a limited product range and emphasis on private-label brands. Lidl is slightly more upmarket than Aldi, with a wider fresh produce section and a better bakery. The weekly special offers follow a similar format to Aldi's. Australians who shop at Aldi in Australia will find Lidl immediately familiar in format.

Lidl operates across all of Germany and is generally within walking distance of an Aldi in most German cities. Many German shoppers do a split shop — buying branded items they want at Rewe and filling the rest of their basket at Lidl for value.

Rewe — The Mainstream Choice

Rewe is Germany's second-largest supermarket chain and the closest equivalent to a Coles or Woolworths — a full-range supermarket with branded products, a good fresh section, a deli counter, a bakery and consistent quality. Prices are higher than Aldi or Lidl but lower than Edeka.

Rewe is the supermarket Australians living in Germany tend to use most frequently for their main weekly shop. The app and online ordering system works well, and many Rewe stores have self-checkout terminals. Product range is comprehensive — most items an Australian cook would recognise are available.

Rewe also runs a convenience sub-brand called Rewe to go at train stations and petrol stations — smaller format, higher prices, useful for quick purchases.

Edeka — Premium Quality

Edeka is Germany's largest supermarket by market share and generally considered the quality leader among mainstream supermarkets. Edeka stores vary significantly — they are operated by independent franchise holders, so a premium Edeka in an affluent Munich suburb may be considerably better stocked than an Edeka in a rural town.

German Edeka stores typically have excellent fresh produce, a high-quality butcher counter (Fleischtheke), a good wine section and a wider range of organic and specialty products than Aldi or Rewe. Prices reflect this — Edeka is consistently more expensive than Rewe.

Best for: Quality ingredients, specialty products, organic food, good wine selection.

Penny — Budget Alternative

Penny is a discount chain similar to Aldi and Lidl, owned by the Rewe Group. It sits slightly above Aldi in quality but is generally cheaper than Rewe. Found throughout Germany, particularly in city centres where Aldi or Lidl may not have a convenient location.

dm and Rossmann — Drugstores (Not Supermarkets)

Worth mentioning alongside supermarkets: dm and Rossmann are German drugstore chains that sell a surprising range of food products alongside toiletries, cosmetics and household items. Their private-label food ranges are often high quality and considerably cheaper than supermarket equivalents. dm in particular is popular for organic products, baby food and health foods that Australians might find expensive elsewhere.

How the German Supermarket Checkout Works

The German supermarket checkout is faster and more efficient than the Australian equivalent — but it requires knowing the rules. Arriving unprepared is one of the most common sources of embarrassment for foreign visitors to Germany.

Step by Step

1. Place items on the belt. Put a divider between your items and the next customer's — this is expected and failing to do it is considered rude.
2. Cashiers scan very fast. German supermarket cashiers are trained to scan items at high speed — considerably faster than Australian checkouts. Items come at you quickly. Do not attempt to pack your bag while items are still being scanned. Let items accumulate in the bagging area and pack after payment.
3. Pay immediately when prompted. The total appears on screen and the cashier waits — do not take time to organise your wallet. Have your payment method ready before the last item is scanned.
4. Move aside to pack. Step to the side of the checkout to pack your bag — there is usually a ledge for this purpose. The next customer's items are already being scanned.

Bags

Plastic bags are not provided free in German supermarkets — they cost €0.10–€0.30 each. Bring your own reusable bag (Einkaufstasche). Most German shoppers carry a folding bag in their coat pocket or backpack at all times. Forgetting a bag and buying a plastic one repeatedly adds up and is considered environmentally irresponsible by German cultural standards.

Pfand — The Deposit System

Germany has an extensive deposit system (Pfand) for drink bottles and cans. Most plastic bottles and many glass bottles carry a deposit of €0.08–€0.25 per container. When you buy these products, you pay the deposit at checkout. When you return the empty bottle to the supermarket's bottle return machine (Pfandautomat), you get a voucher for the deposit amount that can be used against your next purchase.

The Pfandautomat is typically located near the entrance of larger supermarkets. Insert bottles one at a time, collect your voucher at the end and hand it to the cashier or use it at self-checkout. Do not throw away bottles with a Pfand label — it is throwing money away.

Opening Hours

German supermarket opening hours are significantly more restricted than in Australia:

• Monday–Saturday: Most supermarkets open 7am or 8am and close 8pm or 10pm. Large city-centre stores may open until midnight.
• Sunday: Almost all supermarkets are closed on Sunday by law. This is one of the most significant cultural differences for Australians — there is no Sunday grocery run in Germany. Plan your weekly shopping to include Saturday.
• Public holidays: Supermarkets close on German public holidays. Stock up the day before any public holiday.
• Train stations and airports: Rewe to go and other convenience stores at train stations and airports are exempt from Sunday trading laws and open seven days.

Finding Australian Products in Germany

Many products Australians take for granted are simply not available in German supermarkets — or available in a different form.

What You Cannot Find

• Vegemite — available occasionally at international food shops or online (Amazon.de sometimes stocks it)
• Tim Tams — not available in standard German supermarkets
• Iced coffee in cartons — German coffee culture is very different; iced coffee is not mainstream
• Milo — not available
• Lamingtons, anzac biscuits and Australian-style baked goods — not available

What Is Easier to Find Than Expected

• Excellent quality bread — German bread is world-famous and the range in any supermarket is extraordinary by Australian standards
• Cheese — significantly wider variety at lower prices than Australia
• Wine — good quality German and European wine at accessible prices
• Sparkling water — Germans drink enormous quantities; every supermarket has an extensive range
• Organic products — the organic (Bio) range at German supermarkets is much wider than in Australia at comparable prices

German Supermarket FAQs for Australians

Is Aldi in Germany the same as Aldi in Australia?

Related but different. Australian Aldi is modelled on Aldi Süd but operates independently with Australian-specific products. The shopping experience and format are very similar, but the specific products are different. German Aldi will feel immediately familiar to Australian Aldi shoppers in format, but the actual items on shelves are mostly German brands and European products.

Can I pay by card everywhere in German supermarkets?

Major supermarket chains (Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka) all accept card payment — including contactless and Apple/Google Pay in most locations. Smaller markets and some Penny locations may be cash-only. It is always worth carrying €20–€30 in cash as a backup in Germany generally.

Why are German supermarkets closed on Sunday?

German shop closing laws (Ladenschlussgesetz) restrict retail trading on Sundays and public holidays — a reflection of Christian cultural traditions and trade union agreements protecting workers. There is occasional political debate about relaxing these restrictions, but Sunday closing remains the norm across Germany. Australians living in Germany adapt quickly — Sunday becomes a day for restaurants, farmers' markets, outdoor activities and visiting friends rather than errands.

Related Guides

• Working in Germany — Australian Guide
• German Shopping Phrases
• German Vocabulary — Food and Shopping