Retail Sales Monitor 3/2026: Food retail on the up

The German food retail sector is back on track for growth. Our Retail Sales Monitor 3/2026 shows how, after years of price-driven behaviour, consumer behaviour is once again becoming more focused on quality, product range and the shopping experience.

In 2025, the food retail sector grew by 3.9 per cent in nominal terms to 217.8 billion euros, marking the first time in three years that it has recorded real growth above the rate of inflation. There are also signs of change in retail formats: following the price crisis, full-range retailers are regaining market share at the expense of discounters (around 1.1 percentage points).

4 key findings in a concise preliminary overview

Private labels are becoming brands:

Their share of turnover reached 46 per cent (2021: 40 per cent) – in terms of trust, product range and quality, consumers now rate them on a par with manufacturer brands.
Organic sales at record levels:

The organic market grew to 18.2 billion euros in 2025 (+6.7 per cent), with food retailers being the main driver. Private-label organic products account for 67 per cent of the market.
Retail catering is booming:

With turnover of 13.29 billion euros (+7.1 per cent), catering is establishing itself as a driver of footfall, a differentiating factor and a profit centre in its own right.
Digitalisation is becoming the norm:

One in ten checkouts in the food retail sector is now a self-checkout (a doubling in two years), whilst electronic shelf labels are in use at 91 per cent of retailers.

In issue 3/2026 of our Retail Sales Monitor, you will also find figures and analysis for the second quarter of 2026. It becomes clear that the economic recovery remains fragile. GDP rose slightly (+0.2 per cent on the previous quarter), whilst inflation has risen again to 2.8 per cent and consumer confidence remains subdued. Online retail remains the growth driver (real +5.4 per cent). Online shopping for everyday essentials is showing particularly strong growth – led by food (+8.9 per cent).