Over a period of two years, 50 selected, highly qualified students will be mentored by managers and experts from the REWE Group. The aim is to closely integrate study and practice, promote mutual knowledge transfer and identify talent at an early stage.
‘As a diversified retail and service company, we can offer students a wide range of perspectives and insights – from strategy and supply chain to innovation and retail practice. I am delighted that, together with WU, we are further strengthening this bridge between academic excellence and corporate reality,’ says Marcel Haraszti, CEO of REWE International AG.
Excellence meets practice: mentoring, roadmap, and joint formats
The WU Centre of Excellence is aimed at committed Master's students from all disciplines. Through the partnership with REWE Group Austria, participants benefit from a diverse programme spanning four semesters, which includes mentoring, workshops, excursions, fireside chats, and networking and exchange formats. In addition, an individual roadmap is developed jointly, enabling students to deepen their personal interests and get to know different areas of the company.
‘We want to promote young talent at an early stage, give them practical insights and show them how diverse the career opportunities are at REWE Group and its retail companies,’ emphasises Elke Peller-Kühne, Head of People & Culture Talent Acquisition, REWE Group Austria. ‘At the same time, the exchange gives us valuable inspiration, new perspectives and innovative ideas.’
Kick-off evening in Wiener Neudorf: Experience the world of REWE and learn about career paths
The kick-off evening ‘WU meets REWE Group’ took place on 29 January 2026 at the REWE Group headquarters in Wiener Neudorf. Around 80 guests attended the event, including 30 master's students from the support programme and around 50 REWE Group employees and managers.
The evening focused on interactive REWE experience stations, which offered students a wide range of insights into the working world and topics covered by the REWE Group. The spectrum ranged from brand and campaign work at the retail companies to innovation, bonus programmes and sustainability, as well as logistics and supply chain challenges. At the stations, visitors gained insights into the brand strategies of REWE retail companies, such as BILLA BIO, Ja! Natürlich and biGood, as well as the ADEG merchant model. In addition, the Innovation Lab showed how content from the internal production company MaxFive is used, how AI voice clones are utilised and how the jö Bonus Club app creates added value through various touchpoints.
The programme was supplemented by additional themed stations – from the Green Corner, which focused on food rescue, to the Start-up Corner. Networking and career stations rounded off the evening and provided space for personal discussions about entry opportunities and individual development paths within the REWE Group.
‘The Centre of Excellence stands for motivation, curiosity and the desire to take on responsibility. With REWE Group Austria, our students gain a partner that gives them real insights into decision-making processes, innovations and career paths in an international retail environment,’ says Isabella Grabner, Head of the Department of Strategy and Innovation at Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Applications open at the end of March: International Management Trainee Programme
Another focus of the collaboration is providing early guidance on career opportunities: from the end of March 2026, Master's graduates with ideally international experience, for example through internships or semesters abroad, will be able to apply for the International Management Trainee Programme (IMTP) at REWE Group Austria.
Further information and details about the programme can be found on the website:
https://rewe-group.jobs/en/einstiegsmoeglichkeiten/imtp
