The planned collaboration is intended to lay the foundations for the joint, long-term development of the markets – with an even stronger focus on regionality, personalised service, high-quality product ranges and the backing of a strong partner behind the scenes.
Albrecht is one of Vorarlberg’s most prominent retailers. The Feldkirch-Tisis branch has been family-owned for around 100 years and is now run as a ‘feel-good shop’ with a strong focus on enjoyment, freshness and regional diversity. With over 800 m² of retail space, the shop employs around 50 staff members. In Schwarzach, Albrecht runs a traditional local shop with around 410 m² of retail space and 25 staff members.
The retailer’s distinctive touch is evident in both shops: from daily fresh-prepared lunch menus and an in-house bistro, through supplies from seven regional bakers, to a wide selection of organic, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian products. Albrecht provides a sales and display platform for more than 300 small-scale producers. The range also includes more than 2,000 organic products. Albrecht thus stands for a form of local provision that goes far beyond the traditional shopping experience.
Retailer Jürgen Albrecht: “I am a retailer through and through. For me, food is, in the truest sense, the means to life. That is why we want to make shopping not only practical, but above all enjoyable, rewarding and meaningful. Our stores have a soul of their own: in Feldkirch just as much as in Schwarzach. With ADEG, I see an opportunity to preserve this distinctive character whilst continuing to develop it – for our customers, our team and the whole region.”
Brian Beck, Board Member for BILLA Wholesale and Retailers: “The fact that an established retailer such as Jürgen Albrecht, known far beyond the country’s borders, has chosen ADEG shows just how attractive our retailer model is to Austrian entrepreneurs. We combine the greatest possible entrepreneurial freedom at a local level with strong regional roots and the backing of an efficient retail and wholesale network. It is precisely this combination that lays the foundation for shopkeepers to develop their businesses independently, successfully and sustainably over the long term.”
Florian Klein, Managing Director of ADEG: “For ADEG, the planned collaboration with Jürgen Albrecht sends a strong signal. With his tradition as a ‘Kaufmann’, his regional roots and his high standards of quality, he is an ideal fit for ADEG. It is precisely such individuals who shape our network – they stand for genuine closeness to the local community, individual markets and active local entrepreneurship.”
Marcel Haraszti, Member of the Executive Board of REWE International AG: “The future of retail lies in combining entrepreneurial freedom with the strength of a robust partner behind the scenes. With our franchise models, we are creating precisely this framework – and making it attractive for independent entrepreneurs to develop their stores sustainably. Jürgen Albrecht’s planned move underlines this strategic direction.”
A tradition of commerce meets local supply
For over 130 years, ADEG has stood for independent entrepreneurship, regional responsibility and a genuine commitment to customer service. The local retailer brand is supported by independent shopkeepers who run their own shops, tailor their product ranges to their specific regions and are deeply rooted in their local communities.
For experienced entrepreneurs such as Jürgen Albrecht in particular, ADEG offers the ideal framework for developing their shops independently whilst benefiting from the advantages of a strong network. These include, amongst other things, professional support in product range, logistics and marketing, as well as attractive own-brand products from the REWE Group – ranging from value-for-money items to high-quality organic and specialist ranges.
The planned collaboration is therefore not only a testament to a living tradition of commerce, but also a clear signal of the appeal of the ADEG model: independent local entrepreneurship combined with the strength of an efficient retail and wholesale network.
Two strong sites in Feldkirch and Schwarzach
The shop in Feldkirch-Tisis has been family-owned for around a century. Its roots go back to 1926, when Albrecht’s great-grandmother, Isabella Müller, opened a small shop. Today, the shop is renowned for its wide range of products, expertise in fresh produce and special services – including its own bistro, daily fresh lunch menus, an online pre-order system for canapés and platters, and extensive facilities with an underground car park for customers, a lift and customer toilets.
The Schwarzach branch is also closely linked to the family’s history. Starting out as an alpine dairy shop and a market trader, it has developed over the decades into a traditional local supplier for the region. For Albrecht, the market is a branch ‘with soul’: for many years, a well-coordinated team has shaped the business, including long-serving staff and an on-site apprenticeship programme.
Both shops have been recognised on several occasions by the state of Vorarlberg as family-friendly businesses. In this way, Albrecht not only underlines its role as a local supplier, but also its responsibility as a regional employer.
With its two sites in Feldkirch-Tisis and Schwarzach, the aim is to secure local supply in the region in the long term and to develop it in a targeted manner. ADEG is thus contributing to regional value creation, safeguarding jobs and strengthening local supply. ADEG currently operates a total of 24 stores in Vorarlberg.
Until the regulatory authorities have completed their review, both stores will continue to operate as before. The operational transition to ADEG is scheduled for 1 January 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
