Press Release 3rd December 2025

REWE Group says thank you: 8 December off for BILLA, PENNY and BIPA employees

BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY and BIPA will remain closed on 8 December – the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. For several years now, REWE Group retailers have been showing their appreciation for their employees' commitment by giving them an extra day off. To give the more than 40,000 branch employees of BILLA, BILLA PLUS, PENNY and BIPA in Austria some time off, the majority of all shops will remain closed this year.

Three women standing on a sidewalk giving thumbs-up, wearing casual work attire. Trees and buildings line the street in the background.

/ Copyright: © REWE Group / Robert Harson, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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‘8 December is traditionally a busy shopping day, so we are all the more pleased to be giving our employees a break on this day. Their commitment throughout the year deserves the highest recognition and also some time to take a breather,’ says Erich Szuchy, CEO of BILLA.

‘Especially in the hectic pre-Christmas period, it is important for us to set an example: appreciation is also shown by creating free space,’ adds Niko Karras, Managing Director of PENNY. ‘A shared day off gives our teams time for family, friends and relaxation, and is a real concern for us as an employer.’

Daniela Reumann, Managing Director of BIPA, also supports this decision: ‘Our employees shape the shopping experience of our customers every day and make an important contribution. By giving them the 8th of December off, we want to give them the opportunity to do something good for themselves, to consciously experience the Advent season and to gather strength for the last weeks of the year.’

Only selected locations in shopping centres, railway stations and Vienna International Airport will remain open to ensure local supply in heavily frequented areas.