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Department Stores in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Melanie Katz Melanie Katz Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ G47.19DE

Revenue

€15.2bn

2024

€15.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

122k

Businesses

6,220

Wages

€X.Xbn

Department Stores in Germany industry analysis

The best-known department stores are full-range retailers that offer clothing, textiles, household items and electronic devices as well as food in some cases. In recent years, department stores' sales have been subject to strong fluctuations, growing by an average of 2% per year between 2019 and 2024. For 2024, IBISWorld expects sales to fall by 4% to EUR 15.2 billion due to further store closures as part of the Galeria insolvency proceedings concluded at the end of July 2024. < />The fiercest competition for department stores are online retailers such as Amazon or other providers where consumers can order products online and have them delivered to their homes. The variety of products on offer on the Internet, which far exceeds the range offered by bricks-and-mortar department stores, is contributing to the fact that more and more consumers prefer to shop online. At the same time, the increasing turnover of online retailers is an indicator that customer footfall in city centres is continuously falling, which means fewer walk-in customers for sector players. Specialised retailers are also important competitors because they offer potential customers a wider selection in their respective areas than department stores and also have more knowledgeable staff due to their focus on one product group. In addition, department stores are losing some of their customers to shopping centres, which house the sales areas of various retailers, making them a kind of full-range retailer. < />Even after the coronavirus crisis has been overcome, competition from online retail is expected to continue to increase. IBISWorld therefore expects an average decline in sales of 2.6% per year over the next five years and industry sales of 13.3 billion euros in 2029. The number of industry players is also likely to decline due to strong competition.

Trends and Insights

  • In recent years, sales declines have been observed primarily among providers in the mid-price segment. In contrast, market participants in the low-price segment were able to increase their share of sales.
  • Department and department stores generate the majority of their turnover through the sale of clothing. However, the ever-increasing competition from online retailers is leading to a drop in sales in this segment. Industry players are therefore increasingly focussing on private labels.
  • The department stores are primarily located in densely populated areas due to the high customer potential. Accordingly, the central and southern regions have the most shops.
  • More and more customers are purchasing their goods online. Online retail offers consumers a wider range of products, convenient home delivery and better price comparison options.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €15.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The store closures and loss of sales by the market leader are having a negative impact on sector sales

  • The effects of the pandemic, high inflation and the takeover of Galeria Kaufhof by Karstadt in 2019, which was accompanied by a number of store closures, had a negative impact on the sector's sales performance.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Department Stores in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Biggest companies in the Department Stores in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Galeria S.à r.l. & Co. KG
2,155.8
Tedi GmbH & Co. KG
1,679.7
E. Breuninger GmbH & Co.
1,014.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Department Stores in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Clothing, Household articles and Leisure articles. Clothing is the largest segment of the Department Stores in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Department stores are offering more and more private labels in the clothing sector

  • This product group includes clothing, shoes and accessories for women, men and children.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector comprises the retail trade with a wide range of different product groups. The products of department stores and retailers include food and beverages as well as toys, textiles, household items and electronic devices. Companies that focus on a specific product group are not part of this sector.

What's included in this industry?

ClothingHousehold articlesLeisure articlesSporting goodsElectrical goods

Companies

Galeria S.à r.l. & Co. KGTedi GmbH & Co. KGE. Breuninger GmbH & Co.

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MULTICHANNELSPECIAL POSTSSPECIALISED RETAILERS

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 47.19 - Department Stores in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

In recent years, sales declines have been observed primarily among providers in the mid-price segment. In contrast, market participants in the low-price segment were able to ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Department and department stores generate the majority of their turnover through the sale of clothing. However, the ever-increasing competition from online retailers is leadi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The department stores are primarily located in densely populated areas due to the high customer potential. Accordingly, the central and southern regions have the most shops.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

More and more customers are purchasing their goods online. Online retail offers consumers a wider range of products, convenient home delivery and better price comparison opti...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Substantial sales losses have recently forced Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof to enter into protective shield proceedings twice. The reorganisation plan provides for the closure of ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Galeria S.à r.l. & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Tedi GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of E. Breuninger GmbH & Co.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Galeria S.à r.l. & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Tedi GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for E. Breuninger GmbH & Co., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The growth of mail order and online retail poses a risk to the sales development of department stores and retailers. Online retailers are the strongest competition for indust...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Strong competition from mail-order and online retailers is putting increasing pressure on the profit margins of department stores and retailers. The pandemic, the war in Ukra...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Department Stores industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Department Stores industry in Germany is €15.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Department Stores in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 6,220 businesses in the Department Stores industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Department Stores industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Department Stores industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Department Stores industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Department Stores industry in Germany is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Department Stores market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Department Stores market in Germany are Galeria S.à r.l. & Co. KG, Tedi GmbH & Co. KG and E. Breuninger GmbH & Co.

What does the Department Stores in Germany include?

Clothing and Household articles are part of the Department Stores industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Department Stores in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Galeria S.à r.l. & Co. KG.

How competitive is the Department Stores industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Department Stores industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.