Grocery Shopping in Germany: Stores and Hours

Grocery shopping in Germany has a few habits that surprise newcomers: earlier closing times, closed Sundays, bring-your-own bags, and a strong deposit system for bottles and cans.

The market splits roughly into Discounter (lower prices, smaller range) and full supermarkets (more brands and specialty items). Almost every chain sells good store brands (Hausmarken / Eigenmarken) at lower prices.

For typical food budgets by city, see Cost of Living in Germany. For Sundays and public holidays when shops close, see Public Holidays in Germany and German Culture and Etiquette.

Store types and where to shop

Discounters

Lower prices, smaller stores, focused range. Main chains:

• Aldi (Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd)
• Lidl
• Penny
• Netto

Store brands cover most daily needs. The experience is efficient and no-frills.

Full-range supermarkets

More brands, larger stores, higher prices. Common names:

• Rewe
• Edeka (often independently run retailers in a cooperative system; profits stay more local than a single national chain)
• Kaufland (large format, wider non-food range)

Quality ranges from standard to premium. Service and selection are usually broader than at discounters.

Organic (Bio) stores

Dedicated chains include Alnatura, Bio Company, and Denn’s. Prices are usually higher than regular supermarkets.

Most mainstream supermarkets now also have growing Bio aisles, so a separate organic shop is not always necessary.

Weekly markets (Wochenmarkt)

For fresh produce, cheese, and bread, local weekly markets often beat supermarket shelves on freshness. Search Wochenmarkt plus your city for days and locations.

International groceries

Most cities have specialty shops, for example:

• Asian supermarkets
• Turkish markets (fresh produce, halal meat)
• Eastern European or other regional stores

Search online for [cuisine] Supermarkt [your city].

Wholesale (Metro)

Metro is cash-and-carry wholesale. You usually need a business registration (Gewerbeschein) for a customer card. Useful for restaurants, catering, or bulk buying, not typical household shopping.

Bags, carts, hours, and Sundays

Bags. Bring reusable bags. You can buy bags at checkout. Free paper bags are often available only in the fruit and vegetable section.

Shopping carts. Many stores use a deposit lock (Pfand on the cart). Keep a €1 or €0.50 coin to unlock the cart; you get it back when you return it.

Checkout speed. Cashiers scan quickly. Open bags before you reach the register and pack at the packing area if there is one.

Opening hours (typical).

• Weekdays: about 7:00 or 8:00 to 20:00–22:00
• Saturday: similar, sometimes shorter
• Sunday: closed by law except exceptions such as train stations, airports, some gas stations, and late shops (Späti) in certain cities

Public holidays follow Sunday rules. Plan shopping the day before.

Paying and bottle deposits (Pfand)

Cash and cards

Germany still uses more cash than some countries, though card payment is now common in supermarkets.

• Girocard (German debit): works almost everywhere
• Visa/Mastercard debit: usually accepted in larger stores
• Credit cards: often not accepted at discounters, or only with limits
• Bakeries, market stalls, and small shops may be cash-only

Keep some cash as backup.

Pfand on bottles and cans

Returnable packaging carries a deposit (Pfand):

• Many single-use plastic bottles and cans: about €0.25
• Reusable glass bottles: smaller deposits depending on type

Use the reverse vending machine (Pfandautomat) in the supermarket, then use the printed voucher at checkout or get cash back. Collect bottles at home rather than throwing them away.

Labels, saving money, and apps

Compare unit prices. Check price per kg or liter on shelf labels, not only package size.

Weekly offers (Angebote). Store flyers and apps list promotions.

Seasonal produce is often cheaper and fresher. Many stores mark down perishables near closing time.

Bio (organic). EU organic rules limit synthetic pesticides and set animal welfare standards. Demeter uses stricter biodynamic standards. Fairtrade, regional, and vegan labels mean different things; read the label.

Organic farming is mainly an environment and farming choice. It is not automatically more nutritious for every product. Whether the premium is worth it is personal.

Nutri-Score. Some products show a color grade from A to E for nutritional profile. Useful for quick comparison within similar products, not a full diet guide.

Apps and services (examples).

• Too Good To Go — discounted surplus food
• marktguru — compare weekly offers
• Lidl Plus — Lidl discounts
• Penny app — Penny offers

Useful links

• Too Good To Go
• marktguru.de
• Lidl Plus
• Penny app