Schmidts Märkte GmbH

What Schmidts Märkte GmbH does

Schmidts Märkte GmbH is a privately held, family-owned regional supermarket operator founded in 1852 in Rickenbach, Germany. The company runs 16 EDEKA-branded supermarkets across the Südschwarzwald and Hotzenwald regions under two formats: XL-Märkte (large-format stores of 2,000 to 3,000+ m², e.g., the Titisee-Neustadt XL with approximately 35,000 articles) and S-Märkte (smaller neighborhood stores, e.g., Todtmoos at 1,200 m²). Since 1983 the company has been affiliated with the EDEKA Südwest purchasing cooperative, which provides national purchasing power, the EDEKA private-label assortment (Gut & Günstig), cooperative marketing, and EDEKA Stiftung community programs. Two legal entities operate the network: Schmidts Märkte GmbH (Rickenbach, HRB 630 748) and Schmidts Märkte Wehr GmbH (Wehr, HRB 630 936), both under family management.

The company's differentiated offering rests on three vertical layers. First, an in-house food production operation called Schmidts Hausküche, based at a production kitchen in Bad Säckingen, produces handmade salads, schnitzel, frikadellen, stews, soups, sauces, and ready meals using regional ingredients, distributing them across self-service shelving, fresh service counters, snack kiosks, and four on-site Hausküchen restaurants located in the Bad Säckingen XL, Titisee-Neustadt XL, Wehr XL, and Bonndorf stores. Second, a party and catering service (Schmidts Partyservice) supplies cold and warm buffets, finger food, and appetizers for private events, ordered at in-store service counters. Third, a Swiss customer VAT export registration system enables automated tax-free export documentation at checkout for cross-border Swiss shoppers.

The business model is consumer transaction-based retail: revenue is generated through high-volume grocery sales across the 16 locations, complemented by restaurant and catering transaction revenue, and weekly promotional distribution via the digital Marktzeitung. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; individual item prices are determined in-store. The company is led by five family-member Geschäftsführer (Michael Schmidt, Martin Schmidt, Claudia Schmidt-Maier, Matthias Schmidt, Maximilian Schmidt), employs over 1,050 people including approximately 50 apprentices, and operates the Talentschmiede in-house training program with 40+ continuing education modules. The company has won three EDEKA-Supercup awards as Germany's best EDEKA market (2013 for St. Blasien, 2020 for Bad Säckingen XL, 2024 for Wehr XL) and the Zukunftspreis Handel Baden-Württemberg 2019, providing third-party validation of operational excellence.

Name

Schmidts Märkte GmbH

Legal name

Schmidts Märkte GmbH

Website

https://schmidts-maerkte.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1852

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Schmidts Märkte GmbH is a family-owned regional EDEKA supermarket operator running 16 grocery stores in Germany's Südschwarzwald and Hotzenwald regions, supplemented by in-house Hausküche food production, four on-site restaurants, catering services, and Swiss cross-border VAT export retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rickenbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Grocery Sales: Core revenue from sale of groceries and daily consumer goods across 16 supermarket locations (S-Markt, XL-Markt formats) operating under the EDEKA brand in southern Black Forest Germany. Revenue is generated through high-volume consumer transactions.
2. Hausküchen On-Site Dining: Restaurant and dining services operating within 4 XL-Markt locations (Bad Säckingen XL, Titisee-Neustadt XL, Wehr XL, Bonndorf), generating revenue from food and beverage sales to supermarket customers and external diners.
3. Party and Catering Service: Custom catering for private events and celebrations, providing cold/hotbuffet, finger food and appetizers ordered through in-store service counters and picked up at the market.
4. VAT Export Services for Swiss Customers: Revenue indirectly supported by serving Swiss cross-border shoppers via a tax-free export scheme, which drives additional foot traffic and basket size.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schmidts Märkte GmbH operates 16 EDEKA-branded supermarkets (XL-Märkte and S-Märkte formats) across the Südschwarzwald and Hotzenwald regions of Germany, selling groceries and daily consumer goods. The company also runs an integrated Hausküche production kitchen, four in-store Hausküchen restaurants, and a party/catering service. Additional offerings include a weekly digital Marktzeitung (promotional flyer) and a VAT export registration service for Swiss cross-border customers.

Product overview

Schmidts Märkte GmbH is an owner-operated EDEKA retail franchise operating 16 supermarkets in the Südschwarzwald and Hotzenwald regions of Germany. The company operates two store formats: XL-Märkte (large-format stores over 2,000 m² with approximately 35,000 articles and in-house gastronomy) and S-Märkte (smaller neighborhood stores). The product portfolio centers on food retail but extends vertically through Schmidts Hausküche, an in-house food production operation supplying fresh, handmade products to their markets, self-service sections, and four Hausküchen-Restaurant locations. Additional services include a party catering service, weekly promotional flyers (Marktzeitung), and automated export documentation for Swiss customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schmidts Hausküche: An internal production operation of Schmidts Märkte that prepares handmade salads, schnitzels, frikadellen, stews, soups, sauces, and stocks following classic recipes, with an emphasis on regional ingredients. Products are sold across the markets' self-service sections, deli counters, snack bars, and in-store restaurants. Also produces its own spice blends and operates four in-store restaurants.

Products and services

• EDEKA XL-Märkte Large-format EDEKA supermarkets exceeding 2,000 square meters of retail space, offering approximately 35,000 articles including fresh produce, meat, cheese, and fish counters, bakery, and in-house gastronomy (Hausküchen restaurant). Located in Bad Säckingen, Titisee-Neustadt, Wehr, and Bonndorf.
• EDEKA S-Märkte Smaller neighborhood supermarket format serving local communities across the Südschwarzwald region with a focused grocery product selection and personalized service. Locations include Rickenbach, Herrischried, Häusern, Schluchsee, Lenzkirch, Todtmoos, Todtnau, Zell im Wiesental, Murg, St. Blasien, Bad Säckingen Lohgerbe, and Titisee-Neustadt city.
• Schmidts Hausküche In-house food production operation producing handmade salads, schnitzels, frikadellen, ready meals, soups, sauces, and stocks using regional ingredients following classic recipes. Products are sold through the company's markets via self-service sections, deli counters, snack bars, and in-house restaurants. The production kitchen operates in Bad Säckingen.
• Schmidts Hausküchen-Restaurant On-site restaurant concept located in four XL-Markt locations (Bad Säckingen XL, Titisee-Neustadt XL, Wehr XL, and Bonndorf), offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus prepared from the Hausküche production kitchen. Also includes a hot food counter (Imbiss) for quick takeaway snacks. Table reservations are available.
• Schmidts Partyservice (Catering) Catering service offering cold and warm finger food, appetizers, and buffets (Buffet variants: kaltes Buffet, warmes Buffet, Fingerfood & Häppchen) for private events and celebrations. Customers discuss requirements at service counters, place orders, and pick up prepared food items at the market.
• Marktzeitung (Weekly Digital Flyer) Weekly promotional digital catalog showcasing current weekly specials, offers, wine of the month selections, and seasonal promotions across all 16 Schmidts Märkte locations. Available as a downloadable publication for consumers in the Südschwarzwald region.
• Automatischer Ausfuhrschein (VAT Export Service) Automated export receipt service for Swiss customers, where the cash register automatically fills out export documentation upon presenting a customer card. Designed to facilitate tax-free grocery purchases for Swiss cross-border shoppers, driving additional foot traffic and basket size for the supermarket chain.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won EDEKA-Supercup 2024 — Best EDEKA Germany (independent retail over 2,000 m²)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EDEKA Südwest (formerly EDEKA Baden-Württemberg)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1983Schmidts Märkte joined the EDEKA purchasing cooperative (EDEKA Baden-Württemberg, now EDEKA Südwest) in 1983, operating all 16 stores under the EDEKA brand. This partnership provides access to national purchasing power, EDEKA private-label products ('Gut & Günstig'), national brand assortments, EDEKA training programs (EDEKA Next), cooperative marketing funds, and the broader EDEKA brand reputation. EDEKA Stiftung programs (Gemüsebeete für Kids, Mehr bewegen – besser essen) are also part of the partnership ecosystem.
• Naturpark SüdschwarzwaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a premium partner of Schmidts Märkte. The Naturpark Südschwarzwald is a nature park organization promoting the Southern Black Forest region.
• Badeparadies SchwarzwaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a premium partner. Badeparadies Schwarzwald is a major recreational water park in the Southern Black Forest region.
• Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a premium partner. Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH is the official tourism marketing organization for the High Black Forest region.
• Schwarzwald Bio WeiderindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a premium partner. A regional producer/supplier of organic Black Forest cattle/beef, reflecting Schmidts Märkte's commitment to regional and sustainable sourcing.
• Ferienwelt SüdschwarzwaldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a premium partner. Ferienwelt Südschwarzwald is the holiday/vacation region marketing organization for the Southern Black Forest.
• EDEKA StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchmidts Märkte actively participates in EDEKA Stiftung community programs: 'Gemüsebeete für Kids' (vegetable gardens for kindergarten children, initiated 2008) and 'Mehr bewegen – besser essen' (nutrition and exercise education for grades 3-4, initiated 2003). The company also coordinates with local kindergartens and primary schools for these programs.
• EDEKA Südwest Stiftung & Co. KG (Data Protection Officer)minorOthersEDEKA Südwest Stiftung & Co. KG (Edekastraße 1, 77656 Offenburg) is designated as the company's Data Protection Officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter), as stated in the company's privacy policy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Feneberg Lebensmittel GmbH: Family-owned regional supermarket chain headquartered in Kempten, Allgäu, operating ~80 Feneberg and febi stores in southern Germany with similar emphasis on regional sourcing, fresh departments, and in-house production. Closest comparable to Schmidts Märkte as a southern-German independent family supermarket operator of similar regional concentration.
• HIT Handelsgruppe: Family-owned regional hypermarket/supermarket operator (~50 stores) focused on fresh, regional products, and in-house production in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Comparable in scale, format mix, and family-led regional consolidation strategy.
• Tegut Group: Regional premium supermarket chain (~280 stores) focused on organic, fresh, and sustainable assortments, now owned by Migros. Comparable as a regional, quality-positioned supermarket operator with strong fresh and prepared-food differentiation, overlapping with Schmidts Märkte's Hausküchen and quality positioning.
• Wasgau Frische-Märkte: Regional supermarket chain (~70 stores) in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, with strong fresh departments and regional supplier emphasis. Closely comparable as an independent regional supermarket operator with similar store formats (full-line markets with fresh service counters).

Broad incumbents

• REWE Group: Germany's second-largest supermarket operator with national footprint including REWE full-line markets, Penny discount, and toom DIY. Direct competitor to EDEKA-branded retailers across German grocery, with overlapping fresh, private-label, and convenience categories.
• Aldi Süd: Discount supermarket operator covering southern Germany including the Südschwarzwald region. Sets the local reference price point for staple categories that Schmidts Märkte's premium positioning must justify, and represents the primary alternative for price-sensitive regional shoppers.
• Kaufland: Schwarz Group hypermarket division with ~770 stores across Germany, focused on fresh, large-format grocery. Overlaps with Schmidts Märkte XL-Märkte in category, basket size, and fresh department emphasis; competes in the same regional shopping patterns.
• Lidl (Schwarz Group): Germany's largest discount supermarket chain (~3,200 stores) and direct competitor in the Südschwarzwald region. Specifically co-located with the Schmidts Märkte XL-Markt at the Wehr Brennet Areal site, evidencing direct head-to-head physical competition for price-sensitive basket share.

Others

• EDEKA Minden-Hannover: Largest EDEKA regional company, acting as wholesale/distribution entity and operating its own stores. Peer as part of the same EDEKA cooperative ecosystem that defines Schmidts Märkte's purchasing, branding, and operational framework, though at a fundamentally different scale and role (supplier vs. independent retailer).

Emerging players

• Netto Marken-Discount: Edeka-affiliated discount banner (~4,200 stores) operated within the same EDEKA ecosystem as Schmidts Märkte. Represents a strategic adjacency for the EDEKA cooperative's discount positioning, with potential to cannibalize price-sensitive basket share from independent full-line operators like Schmidts Märkte in overlapping geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL3Qk6i50e97KpC86aIAJ_sP-j2qWMhHx9
• Facebookfacebook.com/schmidtsmaerkte
• Instagraminstagram.com/schmidts_maerkte_gmbh

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schmidts Märkte GmbH