In January 2026, the major supermarket chains in Germany closed 72 stores, with Edeka and Rewe among the most affected, while Lidl continued to expand.

In January 2026, German retail recorded a negative trend, with 72 stores closed by major supermarket chains. Edeka, the market leader, reported a significant net decline, closing 37 locations while only opening 10, reaching a total of 6,008 stores. Rewe opened 7 new stores but closed 21, reducing to 4,237 units. Kaufland adopted a cautious strategy, with no new openings and only closing two locations.

In contrast, Lidl managed to expand, opening 7 branches and closing only one, increasing to 3,263 stores. This situation reflects a change in the behavior of German consumers, who are spending more cautiously, and experts warn that consumer confidence will not return quickly, which could lead to a difficult year for retail in Germany.