Cooperation with Politics

Effect

It is clear to the REWE Group that its presence in the city and the countryside also gives rise to responsibility. The company, with over 265,000 employees in Germany and Austria (including retailers), ensures the local supply of the population as part of the critical infrastructure. Its stores are also places of encounter and exchange. Through daily contact with its customers, the REWE Group knows what moves people. In this way, the company also acts as a catalyst. The Public Affairs Department contributes this practical perspective to the political dialogue, as well as requirements and assessments of political regulations or framework conditions, both at national and European level.

Principles

As a cooperative company, it is vital for the REWE Group to show its stance, to take a position on political projects and to actively contribute the entrepreneurial perspective to the dialogue with politics - also in the interest of the employees and independent retailers. For example, the company publishes position papers in the areas of food and nutrition ("Conversion from conventional goods to organic quality", "Measures against food waste"), sustainability and the environment ("Natural climate protection", "Sustainable development in the tourism industry", "Environmental and waste legislation and the circular economy"), employment and cooperatives ("Labour shortages/strengthening economic migration", "Legally compliant deployment of external (digitalisation) specialists within agile projects") and digital and competition (for more responsible AI development). Since 2022, the Public Affairs Department has also been giving its elected representatives a monthly voice in an opinion piece on the REWE Group website. This "Voice of the Month" takes a stand on political projects and initiates debates.

Responsibility and Resources

The REWE Group's Public Affairs Team, headed by Emilie Bourgoin, is the point of contact for all political issues in the areas of food trade, travel and tourism as well as DIY and convenience stores. The experts represent the interests of the REWE Group from Cologne, Berlin and Brussels. About ten REWE Group employees are actively involved in representing political interests.

Implementation

The REWE Group maintains offices in Berlin and Brussels and thus promotes the exchange with stakeholders relevant to trade, travel and tourism and the REWE Group. The company's approach is not to preclude anyone from this dialogue who shares the values and principles of the REWE Group. The exchange with political stakeholders in the numerous countries in which the REWE Group is active is also managed from the Group headquarters in Cologne and Wiener Neudorf.

The REWE Group has been reporting in the Transparency Register of the European Union since 2014 and in the Lobby Register of the German Bundestag since 2022.

Measures and Projects

Dialogues in reporting period

During the reporting period, several discussions and events took place to which many decision-makers from different parties were invited. The topics discussed included labour shortages, rural local supply or husbandry labelling, regional value chains or the future of agriculture. The REWE Group representatives also held direct talks with elected officials and representatives of public authorities and administrations in order to raise their awareness about relevant issues and to clarify the interests of the company. Furthermore, representatives of the REWE Group took part as speakers, guests or discussants in events organised by authorities, parties and associations that dealt with political and social issues relevant to the company. As a trade and tourism company, the REWE Group is affected by legislative processes such as the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act or the introduction of the Due Diligence Act. Moreover, employees of the REWE Group maintain an exchange with politics, authorities and science through memberships in advisory boards or similar advisory bodies to which they are appointed. For example, the group is represented by its Head of Finance in the Sustainable Finance Advisory Council of the German government of the 20th legislative period and has already participated in the advisory council of the 19th legislative period (see also Economic Performance).

Contributions to political parties or associations, public officials and public bodies as well as to churches and other religious groups must be approved by the Divisional Executive Board and the Chief Compliance Officer of the REWE Group. Each contribution must be in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements within the REWE Group, such as the Code of Conduct.

The REWE Group did not engage in any party sponsoring during the reporting period. No information can be provided for the independent retailers. Since 2016, the REWE Group has been a member of both the SPD Economic Forum (Wirtschaftsforum der SPD e. V.) and the CDU Economic Council (Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e. V.) In addition, the REWE Group is a member of the Green Economic Dialogue (Grüner Wirtschaftsdialog e. V.) The costs of the three memberships amount to approximately 58,000 euros annually. In the previous legislative period, the REWE Group was also a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Bundestag parliamentary group of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (Alliance 90/The Greens). In the previous legislative period, the REWE Group was also a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Bundestag parliamentary group of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (Alliance 90/The Greens).