CEO Marcel Haraszti is calling for an expansion of weekly opening hours from 72 to 78 hours on working days. This push follows a ruling that limits staffless self-service markets to the same operating hours as traditional stores.
A Rewe-commissioned survey of 1,000 respondents shows 73 percent support for staffless markets operating after 8:00 PM and on holidays. While the current government program suggests exempting digital suppliers, Rewe has halted -Box expansion plans.
The Shop Opening Hours Act remains a major hurdle for Billa, which currently operates four boxes. Meanwhile, Rainer Trefelik of the Federal Economic Chamber has expressed openness to debating longer Saturday hours and allowing up to ten open Sundays annually.