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Retail Trade in Germany Industry Data and Analysis
The market environment in the German retail sector has recently been characterised by profound upheavals. In the last five years, the retail sector has recorded an average annual growth rate of 0.6%. However, the high number of insolvencies and store closures has led to a significant market shakeout and accelerated consolidation. Larger retail companies are able to expand their market share through targeted acquisitions. Rising operating costs, changing shopping behaviour, increased succession requirements and the strong expansion of online retail were the driving forces behind this development. More and more retail companies are adapting by digitising their product ranges and sales channels and making them sustainable. Investments in organic and regional products as well as in modern store concepts serve to fulfil increasing consumer demands for transparency, quality and sustainability. Omnichannel strategies, which enable the linking of bricks-and-mortar retail and digital sales channels, have become increasingly important, while many small and medium-sized retailers have found it difficult to digitalise their business model. This has led to the increased market power of large chains and intensified competition for customers. Consumers are increasingly making their purchasing decisions based on factors such as price, offers and sustainability.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Retail Trade industry in Germany includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released November 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Retail Trade industry in Germany operates under the WZ industry code G47.00DE. Retail comprises the sale of consumer goods in retail outlets or by mail order to predominantly private consumers. The spectrum of goods on offer ranges from food, textiles and clothing to toys, electronic devices and publishing products such as books, furniture, medical products and motor fuels. This does not include wholesale and trade in motor vehicles. Related terms covered in the Retail Trade industry in Germany include multichannel strategies, click & collect, shelf-led retail trade, point of sale, radio frequency identification (rfid) and self-check-out system.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Retail Trade industry in Germany include Food and luxury foods, Textiles, DIY and furnishing supplies and Medical products, orthopaedic devices and aids.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Retail Trade industry in Germany include Edeka-Gruppe, Schwarz Beteiligungs-GmbH and Amazon.com, Inc.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Retail Trade industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Retail Trade industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Retail Trade industry in Germany.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Retail Trade industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Retail Trade industry in Germany. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Retail Trade industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Retail Trade industry in Germany. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Retail Trade industry in Germany.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Retail Trade industry in Germany in 2026?
The market size of the Retail Trade industry in Germany is €845.6bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Retail Trade industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 300k businesses in the Retail Trade industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Retail Trade industry in Germany?
The Retail Trade industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Retail Trade industry in Germany?
The Retail Trade industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Retail Trade industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Retail Trade industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Retail Trade industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Retail Trade industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Retail Trade industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Retail Trade industry in Germany are Edeka-Gruppe, Schwarz Beteiligungs-GmbH and Amazon.com, Inc.
What does the Retail Trade industry in Germany include?
Food and luxury foods and Textiles, DIY and furnishing supplies are part of the Retail Trade industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Retail Trade industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Retail Trade industry in Germany is Edeka-Gruppe.
How competitive is the Retail Trade industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Retail Trade industry in Germany.
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