Store visit at Rewe To Go in Germany

Sebastian Rennack
international retail analyst
Aletos Retail
Rewe Group has opened its first Rewe To Go store at a German motorway rest area – Rhynern Nord on the A2 – marking a new milestone in its convenience strategy. Developed in cooperation with Lekkerland, Rewe’s convenience wholesaler arm, the compact format offers a curated grab & go assortment, in-house bake-off, and hot ready-to-eat options, targeting the needs of highway travelers and commuters. The location is embedded within a broader mobility hub, featuring EV chargers, fuel pumps, and sanitary facilities – turning the rest stop into a high-frequency retail point.
With more than 900 Rewe To Go stores, most of them located within Aral fuel stations, Rewe has built the country’s only scaled convenience platform linked to petrol infrastructure. Unlike competitors such as Aldi or Lidl, who have tested compact city formats but failed to scale them, Rewe continues to expand across high-traffic locations. The new highway-based store underscores the group’s ability to adapt its offer to mobility-driven occasions and further reinforces its position as the innovation leader in Germany’s underdeveloped small-format grocery segment.

The Rewe To Go facade ensures immediate brand recognition at highway rest stops. Outdoor promotional signage links directly to mobility-driven consumption missions

Still on the outside of the store, Rewe To Go highlights on-trend energy drinks with price incentives

The central ‘fresh food’ island right at the entrance reinforces the fresh food positioning. The store layout and clear zoning allow for quick customer navigation

The heart of the assortment: fresh meals and snacks ready for immediate consumption. Bowl-format salads dominate the offering, reflecting a shift of urban commuter preferences towards healthy convenience

From protein-rich to organic, also the dairy chiller mirrors trending health formats. Private label dominates the selection

The shelf ends of the ambient snack section offers multibuy deals with bold signage and clear shelf structure: Each shelf level serves a pick & mix for one offer.

‘Nerve food for the route?’ Rewe To Go plays with travel-relevant language to drive conversion

Also impulse-driven bakery snacks are priced with multibuy deals to boost volume. Travel-themed messaging ‘Well-fueled for your destination?’ directly targets the on-the-go shopper mindset

Impulse buys are also driven by digital signage above the candy shelf that is positioned strategically next to the checkout counter

Zoning leads shoppers from sweet snacks into chilled beverages. Playful language and visual order support intuitive navigation for short-stay missions

Bundled promotions connect chilled drinks with high-margin food items. Price-labeled combos simplify choice for time-pressed customers

The checkout zone merges grab-and-go logic with a quick-service food counter. Coffee, meal-deals, and sweets are combined to maximize dwell-time monetization

Tobacco products are stored in a non-accessible back wall, consistent with age-restricted item regulations and handed out by staff. Two large digital screens above the counter promote meal deals, capturing shopper attention even while queuing

Positioned directly next to the checkout, the “Heiß Speed” hot corner station targets impulse purchases. The 45-second heating promise lowers the barrier for spontaneous snack purchases – even for those who hadn’t planned to eat

Freshly prepared hot snacks like Rustino sandwiches are displayed behind glass to trigger last-minute appetite decisions. A meal deal prominently promoted above the counter encourages shoppers to upgrade their transaction just before payment

The second checkout is designed more like a barista counter than an impulse till. The broad bakery range allows travelers to quickly pick up fresh, warm items without queuing at the main counter

As a complement to their bakery item or hot snack, shoppers can choose to have a coffee prepared by the barista cashier…

…or grab a quick self-service coffee to go – available with either regular milk or oat drink for added flexibility

Positioned next to the coffee counter, a dedicated freezer features O-Mochi – Germany’s latest trend in premium ice cream

Rewe To Go integrates fresh produce into the impulse zone. Single apples offer a healthy, low-effort snack for mobility-driven consumption
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