German shoppers flock to Aldi as inflation and war reshape grocery habits
German shoppers are switching to discount supermarkets as energy costs climb and price rises loom. The shift became clear just three weeks after the outbreak of the Iran war. Data from calendar week 12 shows Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd gaining ground while rivals lost customers.
In the week beginning 16 March, Aldi Süd's share of customer visits rose by a full percentage point compared to the week before the war. Aldi Nord saw a smaller but still notable increase of 0.7 percentage points. These gains contrast sharply with losses at other major chains.
Rewe's customer visits dropped by 0.7 percentage points in the same period. Edeka lost 0.6 percentage points, while Kaufland's share fell by 0.5 percentage points. The changes mark an unusual trend, according to Maarten Vander Beken of Accurat, who noted that such rapid shifts had not been observed before. For Germany's food retailers, even a single percentage point in market share equals roughly €2 billion in revenue. The sector generates over €200 billion in annual sales, making these movements financially significant.
The data highlights how quickly economic pressures are reshaping shopping habits. Discounters like Aldi have benefited as consumers seek ways to cut costs. The impact of the war on retail patterns emerged within weeks, showing how external events can rapidly alter market dynamics.
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