REWE may therefore take over the following locations (10 of which with remedies):
1. Hauptstraße 33, 4770 Andorf (store with remedies)
2. Auleitenstraße 1, 4890 Frankenmarkt (store with remedies)
3. Hauptstraße 63, 4673 Gaspoltshofen
4. Vogeltennstraße 2, 4293 Gutau
5. An der Kreuzstraße 2, 4792 Münzkirchen
6. Linzerstraße 24, 4501 Neuhofen an der Krems
7. Bahnhofstraße 11, 4720 Neumarkt im Hausruckkreis
8. Kammer, 4974 Ort im Innkreis
9. Marktstraße 3, 4760 Raab (store with remedies)
10. Linzer Straße 15, 4840 Vöcklabruck
11. Stelzhamerstraße 17, 4870 Vöcklamarkt
12. Markt 23f, 4391 Waldhausen (store with remedies)
13. Weitersfelden 116, 4272 Weitersfelden (store with remedies)
14. Roseggerstraße 19, 8184 Anger (store with remedies)
15. Eibiswald 477, 8552 Eibiswald
16. Hausmannstättener Straße 78, 8072 Fernitz (store with remedies)
17. St. Oswald 65, 8113 St. Oswald ob Plankenwarth (store with remedies)
18. Dietmannsdorferstraße 346, 8181 St. Ruprecht (store with remedies)
19. Schwarzer Weg 1, 3363 Neufurth
20. Moidrams 99, 3910 Zwettl (store with remedies)
REWE withdrew the planned acquisition of the site at Grazerstraße 30, Lebring, on 28 January 2026 for internal corporate reasons, with the result that only 20 sites will be acquired by REWE.
Market definition - Analysis of competition situation
The competition assessment focussed primarily on the two sides of the food retail market: effects on consumers and the impact on regional suppliers, with the respective local market being included in the assessment in each case. Catchment areas were determined for the target stores based on the respective region and these were subsequently analysed.
The AFCA assessed each of the 20 stores individually from a competition perspective. This analysis covered in particular the regional structure, the number and accessibility of alternative stores, customer behaviour (including commuters’ behaviour), local circumstances, as well as proximity to other food retail outlets. All competitors and independent ADEG retailers throughout Austria, as well as other market participants such as regional and local suppliers, were consulted in the form of comprehensive requests for information.
The AFCA defines the relevant product market as full-range food retail. This covers those businesses that sell a comprehensive range of everyday consumer goods to consumers, specifically consumer markets, supermarkets and discounters. Filling station shops, kiosks and similar small outlets, and goods that are not typically sold in traditional food retail shops (e.g. tools or sports equipment), are not included in this market definition.
Geographically, the market is defined locally since consumers usually choose to shop in nearby stores. The local market is defined by catchment areas that reflect a reasonable length of car journey. For the case at hand, a catchment area based on a car trip of between 10 and 20 minutes was assumed, depending on how rural a location was. This was used as the starting point for food retailing in rural areas, with the size of individual catchment areas potentially deviating from this original assumption. Stores located near cities were allocated smaller catchment areas since their customers tend to have a range of different shopping options within close reach.
The Federal Cartel Prosecutor was involved in the negotiations on the remedies and has also cleared the notification.
Remedies
REWE has made commitments for locations in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria.
ADEG-Retailer remedies
REWE has accepted “retailer remedies” for 10 of the 20 notified locations:
o Andorf
o Frankenmarkt
o Raab
o Waldhausen
o Weitersfelden
o Anger
o Fernitz
o St. Oswald
o St. Ruprecht
o Zwettl
The remedy ensures that the stores that are taken over can be operated by independent ADEG retailers in the long term. These operators can to a large extent make their own decisions on pricing and product ranges, thereby not only strengthening competition with other food retailers but also with REWE’s own branches and other independent ADEG retailers. Since these operators are free to decide which products to stock, regional and local suppliers will still be fully able to deliver to such stores. By offering specific products, retailers can cater to local customers’ needs and preserve regional variety. The remedy not only protects consumers but also helps small regional businesses, ensuring that they will continue to have regional buyers even after the takeover.
The remedies apply for 10 years, creating long-term planning security for retailers as well as regional and local suppliers.
Case report
The AFCA will publish an extensive case report about the merger on its website in a timely fashion, including detailed information about the procedure itself and the competition analysis of each individual store location.
The exact remedies agreed can be found here (in German): Z-7180 REWE Group; Übernahme von 20 Standorten der UNIMARKT Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H. & Co. KG