Press Release 6th March 2026

Women secure Austria's supply: REWE Group strengthens female success factors

The REWE Group in Austria (BILLA, BILLA PLUS, BIPA, PENNY) is one of the largest employers in the country. A total of around 47,000 employees work in the markets, branches and head office, 70 per cent of whom are women – that is 33,000 female colleagues who, through their daily work in 2,500 locations, make a significant contribution to supplying and advising customers.

A mother and daughter sit on a sofa in a cozy kitchen, facing each other and smiling warmly. The mother has curly hair and wears a light blue shirt, while the daughter has straight hair and wears a rust-colored t-shirt. They seem to be having a pleasant conversation.

/ Copyright: © BIPA/GettyImages, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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At a glance

The REWE Group in Austria (BILLA, BILLA PLUS, BIPA, PENNY) is one of the largest employers in the country.
A total of around 47,000 employees work in the markets, branches and head office, 70 per cent of whom are women – that is 33,000 female colleagues who, through their daily work in 2,500 locations, make a significant contribution to supplying and advising customers.

Our female colleagues are the backbone of our company. Without their commitment and expertise, the day-to-day operations of our approximately 2,500 locations would simply not be possible. We would like to emphasise this on International Women's Day – but appreciation should not be limited to one day a year. It is crucial that we open up real prospects for women and actively support their professional development, whether in the market, in the branch or at head office. At the same time, it is clear that this strong foundation is not yet sufficiently reflected in the upper management levels. We are therefore implementing targeted measures to enable more women to reach top positions."

More women in leadership positions: Women's Drive and f.ernetzt are making an impact

Lisa Köb, Head of Human Resources at REWE International AG, adds: "The strength of our organisation is particularly evident in the markets where women already hold the majority of leadership roles. Female colleagues lead teams, design processes and make a significant contribution to Austria's supply security every day. The proportion of women in middle management is rising steadily – we want to continue this positive development at senior management level too. With targeted development programmes and clear framework conditions, we are creating conditions that support women in their careers, give them visibility and facilitate their path to higher management positions."

Since 2017, the one-year ‘Women's Drive’ programme has been offering targeted development for women in management roles – with practical seminars and accompanying mentoring by experienced managers. The programme has already enabled significant career steps for women in the company.

The internal network ‘f.ernetzt’ further strengthens the exchange between female executives and promotes mutual empowerment.

Transparent career paths and targeted development programmes ensure that women within the REWE Group can fully develop their potential at all levels of the company – in a sustainable, visible and future-oriented manner.

BILLA and BIPA send a strong signal for women's health and women's and girls' sports

The REWE Group in Austria is continuing its long-term commitment to promoting the health and sporting activities of women and girls. The BIPA initiative ‘Ehrlich gesagt’ (To be honest) focuses on women-specific health issues.

It is also consistently promoting women's and girls' sports: BILLA is promoting the visibility and further development of girls' and women's football in Austria through events such as the ‘BILLA Bandenzauber’ in Upper Austria, thereby creating valuable recognition and promotional opportunities for young female athletes.

Women's power at PENNY

At PENNY, it is particularly clear how strongly women influence operational performance in retail: at the highest sales level, three out of five sales managers are women, each responsible for hundreds of employees and contributing significantly to the successful development of the company. PENNY is also known in Austria for its in-house butchers, who cut fresh meat directly in the store – a traditional craft that is also practised by women at PENNY: of the 289 butchers, 22 are female colleagues who carry out this profession with great expertise and passion.