Germany: Top 10 Retail Trade & Wholesale Trade Companies with Highest Sales

According to our database (as of May 2023), a total of more than 5.3M businesses operate in Germany. 17.57% of them (more than 934 thousand) operate in Retail Trade & Wholesale Trade. These companies generate 14.95% of total sales reported by all businesses registered in Germany and employ 12.62% of all employees in Germany. The TOP 10 Retail Trade & Wholesale Trade companies in Germany generated more than EUR 373B in sales in 2021 - the largest company, Schwarz Group, was responsible for 35.8% of the total.

All data used below is available in individual companies’ annual reports. All of the TOP 10 Retail Trade & Wholesale Trade companies in Germany reported their consolidated results. Not all companies on the TOP 10 list reported their profit.

Schwarz Group had the highest sales in 2021

Schwarz Group was first with reported sales of EUR 133.6B (year-on-year increase of EUR 8.3B). Schwarz Group is the parent company of Lidl and Kaufland operating discount supermarkets and hypermarkets worldwide.

Rewe Group was second with sales of EUR 69.4B in 2021 (year-on-year increase of EUR 1.7B). It is one of the leading retail companies in Germany operating supermarket chains such as Rewe and Penny.

Edeka Group was third with EUR 62.7B (an increase of EUR 1.7B compared to 2020). Edeka is the largest supermarket chain in Germany, offering a wide range of products and services through its numerous regional cooperatives.

PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH & Co KG was fourth with EUR 30.7B in sales in 2021 (year-on-year increase of EUR 2.5B). It is a leading pharmaceutical wholesale and services company specializing in distribution of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products across Europe.

METRO AG was fifth with reported sales of EUR 24.8B (a decrease of EUR 867M compared to 2020). METRO is a global wholesale company operating in 35 countries. The company provides a range of products and services to B2B customers in the hospitality, foodservices, and retail sectors.

Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG was sixth with EUR 17.1B in sales in 2021 (an increase of EUR 2.5B year-on-year). It is a global wholesaler of tools and supplies for the construction, automotive, and manufacturing industries.

Dm-drogerie markt GmbH + Co. KG was seventh with reported sales of EUR 12.3B (an increase of EUR 750M compared to 2020). Dm-drogerie markt is a drugstore chain offering personal care, beauty, and household products.

McKesson Europe AG was eighth with sales of EUR 9.3B in 2021 (year-on-year increase of EUR 739M). McKesson Europe AG is a leading pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare services company operating in several EU countries.

Klöckner & Co SE was ninth with EUR 7.4B in sales (an increase of EUR 2.3B compared to 2020). It is a steel and metal distributor.

HORNBACH Baumarkt AG Group was tenth with reported sales of EUR 5.5B in 2021 (year-on-year increase of EUR 379M). It is a leading home improvement retailer offering a wide selection of products for construction, renovation, and DIY projects with stores across the whole of Europe.

Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG had the highest profit both before and after tax in 2021

Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG reported the highest profit before tax in 2021 - EUR 1.2B. Rewe Group was second with EUR 1.1B followed by Klöckner & Co SE (EUR 748M), PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH & Co KG (EUR 304.5M), HORNBACH Baumarkt AG Group (EUR 237M), and METRO AG (EUR 40M). McKesson Europe AG reported a loss of EUR -35.1M.

Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG also reported the highest profit after tax in 2021 - EUR 965.4M. Rewe Group was second with EUR 755.6M, followed by Klöckner & Co SE (EUR 629M), PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH & Co KG (EUR 218.3M), and HORNBACH Baumarkt AG Group (EUR 189M). Two companies reported a loss: METRO AG (EUR -45M) and McKesson Europe AG (EUR -49.2M).