The KaDeWe Group
The KaDeWe Group operates three German luxury department stores — KaDeWe Berlin (60,000+ sqm), Alsterhaus Hamburg (24,000+ sqm), and Oberpollinger Munich (50,000 sqm) — serving affluent local shoppers and international tourists with designer fashion, beauty, gourmet food (Die Sechste), and white-glove services across the three flagships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1907
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The KaDeWe Group does
The KaDeWe Group (legal entity: KaDeWe GmbH) is a privately held German luxury department store operator headquartered in Berlin, running three flagship retail properties: KaDeWe Berlin (founded 1907, over 60,000 sqm across 8 floors), Alsterhaus Hamburg (over 24,000 sqm across 6 floors), and Oberpollinger Munich (50,000 sqm across 7 floors). The Berlin flagship is one of the largest department stores in Europe and is positioned alongside Galeries Lafayette Paris and Harrods London. Wholly owned subsidiaries Alsterhaus GmbH and Oberpollinger GmbH operate the Hamburg and Munich stores respectively.
The Group's core offering is luxury multi-category physical retail — international designer fashion, premium beauty, home & living, and an extensive food and gastronomy proposition headlined by 'Die Sechste' (the 6th floor food hall with 35,000+ products, wines, and 20+ restaurants and bars). Ancillary revenue and differentiation are driven by white-glove services: personal shopping/VIC programs, beauty lounges, an in-house alterations atelier, chauffeur/limousine service, and catering. Supporting technology stack comprises SAP S/4HANA for ERP, SAP HCM for HR, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, Braze for marketing automation and loyalty communications, and a custom loyalty portal at loyalty.kadewe.com.
The business model is direct-to-consumer luxury retail with a hybrid product-led motion layered via the loyalty program (which provides points accumulation, a 10% welcome bonus, exclusive experiences, and personalized services across all three stores). Revenue streams include one-time merchandise sales, food and beverage, loyalty/recurring engagement, and professional services. Customer segments span local affluent shoppers, international luxury tourists, gourmet enthusiasts, and VIP/personal shopping clients. Following a 2025 cyberattack and insolvency, the Group has restructured under new leadership (Timo Weber, CEO; Florian Frank, Managing Director; Sean Hill, Chairman of the Supervisory Board) and is operating under new management.
The KaDeWe Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The KaDeWe Group
- Legal name
- KaDeWe GmbH
- Website
- https://kadewe.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1907
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The KaDeWe Group operates three German luxury department stores — KaDeWe Berlin (60,000+ sqm), Alsterhaus Hamburg (24,000+ sqm), and Oberpollinger Munich (50,000 sqm) — serving affluent local shoppers and international tourists with designer fashion, beauty, gourmet food (Die Sechste), and white-glove services across the three flagships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The KaDeWe Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Department Store Retail
- NAICS
- Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (4581), Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers (4583)
- SIC
- Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Home & Lifestyle Department Stores (CRAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Gourmet Food & Specialty Food Halls (Department Store–Operated) (CRAGADAH), Luxury Accessories & Leather Goods Department Stores (CRAGADAE)
Keywords
Where The KaDeWe Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
The KaDeWe Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Merchandise Sales: Revenue from sale of luxury fashion, accessories, beauty products, home goods, and gourmet food across 8 floors at KaDeWe Berlin and additional stores. Products include international luxury brands, designer collections, and exclusive runway pieces.
- Food & Beverage: Revenue from 6th floor food department with 35,000+ products and wines, over 20 restaurants and food counters, including Casa Beef, Goldies Bar, Moët & Chandon Bar, Champagnerbar, and catering services.
- Loyalty Program: Loyalty Card Program generates customer data and drives repeat purchases through points accumulation and exclusive member benefits. 10% welcome bonus for new members.
- Services: Premium services including personal shopping, beauty treatments, alteration services, chauffeur/limousine service, and event hosting drive additional revenue and differentiate the shopping experience.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
The KaDeWe Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The KaDeWe Group operates three luxury department stores in Germany — KaDeWe Berlin (60,000+ sqm, 8 floors), Alsterhaus Hamburg (24,000+ sqm, 6 floors), and Oberpollinger Munich (50,000 sqm, 7 floors) — selling international designer fashion, beauty, home & living merchandise, and gourmet food across the renowned 35,000-product Die Sechste food hall. The company also delivers premium in-store services including personal shopping, beauty treatments, alterations, chauffeur/limousine service, and catering. A cross-store Loyalty Card Program supports retention and personalized customer engagement.
Product overview
The KaDeWe Group operates three prestigious department stores in Germany: KaDeWe Berlin (60,000+ sqm, 8 floors), Alsterhaus Hamburg (24,000+ sqm, 6 floors), and Oberpollinger Munich (50,000 sqm, 7 floors). The Group's product portfolio centers on luxury retail experiences combining fashion, beauty, home & living, and gastronomy. The flagship KaDeWe Berlin features the renowned 'Die Sechste' food hall with 35,000+ products and 20+ dining options. Services include Personal Shopping, Beauty Services, Catering, Chauffeur Service, and a Loyalty Card Program spanning all three locations. The Group also offers event venues and ticketing services. The offering is not a unified software platform but rather a collection of physical retail locations supported by digital touchpoints (loyalty portal, appointment booking, online magazine, ticket shop).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Die Sechste (The Sixth): The 6th floor food and gastronomy department featuring over 35,000 products, wines, champagne bar, restaurants and food counters - one of the most comprehensive food departments worldwide
- KaDeWe Loyalty Card Programm
Products and services
- KaDeWe Berlin Flagship Department Store Flagship luxury department store in Berlin with over 60,000 sqm across 8 floors, offering international designer fashion, beauty, home & living, and the Die Sechste food hall. Serves affluent shoppers, fashion enthusiasts, international tourists, and gourmet diners.
- Alsterhaus Hamburg Department Store
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60,000 sqm of retail space - one of Europe's largest department stores
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The KaDeWe Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The KaDeWe Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature2 records
The KaDeWe Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Braze Inc.coreCRM and marketing automation platform used for customer engagement, push notifications, newsletter personalization, and loyalty program communications. Core to KaDeWe's customer relationship management strategy.
- LILYSILKminorPremium lifestyle brand specializing in silk and natural fiber products. Operates concession sales within Oberpollinger Munich store. Hiring conducted through KaDeWe but employment is with LILYSILK.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The KaDeWe Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harrods: London-based luxury department store and a global benchmark for KaDeWe's positioning. Comparable in scale, brand curation, food halls (Harrods Food Hall), premium services, and tourist-driven luxury retail.
- Selfridges: UK luxury department store group (Oxford Street flagship plus regional stores). Comparable business model: luxury fashion, beauty, food, and destination retail, with similar tourist dependency and brand positioning to KaDeWe.
- El Corte Inglés: Spain's largest department store group with flagship stores combining fashion, gourmet food halls, restaurants, and services. Highly comparable multi-category luxury retail model serving both domestic affluent customers and international tourists.
- Printemps: Paris-based luxury department store recently taken private and repositioned for premium/luxury segments. Comparable to KaDeWe as a continental European destination department store with fashion, beauty, and curated food offerings.
- La Rinascente: Italy's leading luxury department store chain with flagship stores in Milan, Rome, and other cities. Directly comparable in scale, premium positioning, food hall concepts (like Caffè La Rinascente), and tourist-driven luxury model.
- Galeries Lafayette: Iconic French luxury department store flagship on Boulevard Haussmann, Paris. Directly comparable to KaDeWe as a destination luxury department store with strong food hall (La Maison), beauty, and fashion, serving both local and international luxury tourists.
Broad incumbents
- Neiman Marcus: US luxury department store group (also recently emerged from Chapter 11). Comparable premium fashion/beauty/gourmet positioning, services such as personal shopping, and the post-restructuring turnaround narrative relevant to KaDeWe.
- Saks Fifth Avenue: US-based luxury department store chain (now operated by HBC post-Saks.com separation). Comparable luxury positioning, food/service experiences, and tourist-driven flagship model, though with a different geographic and digital footprint.
Regional players
- Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof: Largest German department store operator, also emerged from insolvency proceedings in 2024. Comparable as a domestic multi-city department store chain, though positioned more broadly (mid-market to premium) versus KaDeWe's luxury focus.
- Breuninger: German premium fashion and lifestyle department store with flagship in Stuttgart and Düsseldorf. Comparable as a German luxury/premium multi-store retailer with strong fashion and beauty curation, though with less iconic food hall presence than KaDeWe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The KaDeWe Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe KaDeWe Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The KaDeWe Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The KaDeWe Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The KaDeWe Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The KaDeWe Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The KaDeWe Group
What does The KaDeWe Group do?
The KaDeWe Group operates three luxury department stores in Germany — KaDeWe Berlin (60,000+ sqm, 8 floors), Alsterhaus Hamburg (24,000+ sqm, 6 floors), and Oberpollinger Munich (50,000 sqm, 7 floors) — selling international designer fashion, beauty, home & living merchandise, and gourmet food across the renowned 35,000-product Die Sechste food hall. The company also delivers premium in-store services including personal shopping, beauty treatments, alterations, chauffeur/limousine service, and catering. A cross-store Loyalty Card Program supports retention and personalized customer engagement.
Is The KaDeWe Group a public or private company?
The KaDeWe Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The KaDeWe Group founded?
The KaDeWe Group was founded in 1907. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is The KaDeWe Group based?
The KaDeWe Group is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does The KaDeWe Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Merchandise Sales are the primary driver. The others are food & Beverage, loyalty Program and services.
Who are The KaDeWe Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harrods, Selfridges, El Corte Inglés, Printemps, La Rinascente and Galeries Lafayette. Broad incumbents are Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Regional players are Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof and Breuninger.
Does The KaDeWe Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The KaDeWe Group.
What industry is The KaDeWe Group in?
The KaDeWe Group's product category is Luxury Department Store Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAGADAG, Luxury Home & Lifestyle Department Stores, with a secondary code of CRAGADAH, Luxury Gourmet Food & Specialty Food Halls (Department Store–Operated). Its NAICS code is 4581 and its SIC code is 5399.