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Online Food Retailing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Clara-Camille Schneider Clara-Camille Schneider Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: November 2024 WZ SP47.03DE Spotlight Report

Revenue

€4.0bn

2024

€4.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

18,625

Businesses

438

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Online Food Retailing in Germany industry analysis

While online food delivery services did not play a major role in the past, this changed with the coronavirus pandemic, when many customers ordered food online for the first time. The high demand led to high growth in industry sales, but also caused supply bottlenecks and delayed delivery times. In addition to numerous start-ups, this period also saw many new online offerings from bricks-and-mortar grocery retailers. This also significantly expanded the logistics sector in online food retail. In 2022 and 2023, consumers' reduced willingness to spend led to falling industry sales, which nevertheless grew by an average of 16.3% per year in the period from 2019 to 2024. In the current year, industry sales are expected to increase by 5.3% to around 4 billion euros. The majority of industry players are currently continuing to focus on sales markets in large cities and city centres. The extensive expansion of direct deliveries, apart from shipping options and pick-up services, is proving to be less profitable in rural areas. The expansion of digital systems plays a crucial role here, as it enables efficient ordering processes, personalised offers and precise deliveries, which leads to more satisfied customers and sales growth. < />Numerous new companies of various sizes are trying to establish themselves in the limited market with different business, operating and sales models, which is likely to lead to consolidation and market exits in the coming years. IBISWorld expects industry turnover to increase by an average of 3.6% per year to 4.8 billion euros by 2029. Social trends and changing consumer preferences are influencing the German online grocery trade. Growing health awareness is likely to lead to increased demand for high-quality foods such as fruit, vegetables and organic products. At the same time, the growing demand for transparency in the supply chain requires precise information on the origin of products. Regional and seasonal foods are likely to be of growing importance, as are organic and fair trade brands. The strong awareness of food waste in turn requires efficient take-back systems.

Trends and Insights

  • The unbroken cold chain in online food retail is a major challenge, as it requires considerable investment and high operating costs. Despite this, customers in Germany expect a free returns service.
  • Despite scepticism, the online trade in fruit and vegetables could grow. Customers doubt the freshness of the products delivered, but improved supply chains and growing health awareness could strengthen the segment.
  • The moderate market concentration in online food retail is due to the fact that the industry is still relatively young and still has great sales potential. In addition, the market concentration in online food retail is moderate due to the need for nationwide logistics and the requirements for product freshness.

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  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 16.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €4.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Consumer shopping behaviour has changed significantly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and demand for food from online shops has increased

  • While before the coronavirus pandemic it was normal for consumers to buy food spontaneously at the supermarket and check the freshness of the products themselves before buying, online grocery shopping became a safe and convenient option during the pandemic.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Online Food Retailing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Online food retailers must address customer expectations and social trends

  • The future of online grocery retail in Germany will be significantly influenced by changing consumer preferences. The growing demand for transparency in the supply chain is leading to increased efforts by retailers to provide accurate origin information.

Biggest companies in the Online Food Retailing in Germany

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Online Food Retailing in Germany industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Online Food Retailing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Fruit and vegetables, Bread, sausage and cheese and Meat and poultry. Fruit and vegetables is the largest segment of the Online Food Retailing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Despite initial scepticism, the online trade in fruit and vegetables is likely to grow

  • The fruit and vegetables product segment comprises the sale of fresh fruit, vegetables and potatoes.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Online food retail comprises the electronic sale and delivery of food via internet platforms. A distinction is made between pure online grocery retailers with their own web shops, franchisers and delivery services from established, brick-and-mortar retailers who supplement their business with online platforms. Supermarkets, for example, offer their customers the option of ordering groceries online and having them delivered to their homes.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany include .

Companies

Companies covered in the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany include click-and-collect services, multi-chamber vehicles, omni-channel logistics and same-day-delivery.

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 47.91.9 - Online Food Retailing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The unbroken cold chain in online food retail is a major challenge, as it requires considerable investment and high operating costs. Despite this, customers in Germany expect...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Despite scepticism, the online trade in fruit and vegetables could grow. Customers doubt the freshness of the products delivered, but improved supply chains and growing healt...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The moderate market concentration in online food retail is due to the fact that the industry is still relatively young and still has great sales potential. In addition, the m...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Important legal changes for the online food trade came into force in August 2021. The core changes mainly concern stronger monitoring of trade on online platforms and better ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

In the last five years, the grocery industry has seen increased competition and price wars. Leading online grocery retailers have been able to expand their market share throu...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany is €4.0bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany in 2024?

There are 438 businesses in the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 15.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 16.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

How competitive is the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Online Food Retailing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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Complementors

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International industries

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View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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