# Rewe Austria CEO Pushes for Longer Opening Hours

October 18, 2026 at 08:20 AM

> Marcel Haraszti calls for a weekly increase to 78 hours following a court ruling on staffless markets and high consumer demand in Austria.

**Rewe Austria** CEO **Marcel Haraszti** is calling for an expansion of weekly opening hours from 72 to 78 hours on working days. This push follows a **Constitutional Court** 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 **Billa**-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.


#ReweAustria #BillaBox [#RetailNews](<https://austriareport.com/hashtag/retailnews>) #ShoppingHours #AustriaBusiness

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