Presse

Discounts or a Data Trap?

Nord24

What You Need to Know About Supermarket Loyalty Apps

Loyalty apps from retailers like Rewe, Lidl, and Kaufland promise discounts — but also spark controversy. Consumer advocates warn of excessive data collection, while the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart has dismissed a lawsuit against Lidl Plus. But how much do customers really save — and which app is actually worth it?

Many shoppers use the loyalty apps and rewards programs from chains like Rewe, Lidl, or Kaufland. However, consumer protection groups are critical of how user data is handled. While the Stuttgart court rejected a case against the Lidl Plus app, it did allow an appeal to the Federal Court of Justice.

Nearly all major supermarket chains now rely on apps offering special deals, shopping lists, and recipe suggestions. Those who register can take advantage of bonus promotions, extra discounts, and digital coupons. According to expert Carsten Kortum, a new trend is emerging: many low prices are now only available through the app.

Loyalty apps from Lidl & Co—what are the benefits?

msn

dpa

Many customers use loyalty apps and bonus programs from retail chains such as Rewe, Lidl, and Kaufland. However, consumer advocates have also voiced criticism. On Tuesday, the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart will rule on a lawsuit against the “Lidl Plus” app. According to the Federation of German Consumer Organizations, the discounter does not adequately inform users that they are paying for the app discounts with their data. This is a good reason to take a closer look at the apps:

What are retailer apps and what advantages do they offer?

Rewe, Lidl, Kaufland: Almost all major retail chains have an app that customers can use on their smartphones. They use it to advertise their products and special offers. Consumers can create shopping lists and get recipe ideas. Those who register can also take advantage of bonus and loyalty programs at many retailers. Some offer additional items, while others offer extra discounts on reduced products. In many cases, customers receive discount coupons when they reach a certain purchase amount within a month.

Loyalty programs

WirtschaftsWoche

Loyalty Apps from Lidl & Co – What Are the Real Benefits?

Collecting points, unlocking extra discounts, and saving money: that's the promise of retailers’ loyalty programs and apps. But consumer advocacy groups are raising concerns.

Questions & Answers

Stuttgarter Zeitung

Loyalty Apps from Lidl & Co – What Benefits Do They Really Offer?

Earning points, unlocking extra discounts, and saving money while shopping – that’s the promise behind retailers’ loyalty programs and apps. However, consumer advocates take a more critical view.

Economy

Münchner Merkur

Loyalty Apps from Lidl & Co – What Benefits Do They Really Offer?

Earning points, unlocking extra discounts, and saving money while shopping – that’s the promise of loyalty programs and apps offered by major retailers. But consumer advocacy groups remain skeptical.

Düsseldorf/Stuttgart - Many customers use the loyalty apps and rewards programs of supermarket chains like Rewe, Lidl, or Kaufland. However, consumer advocates have raised concerns. On Tuesday, the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart dismissed a lawsuit against the “Lidl Plus” app, but allowed an appeal to the Federal Court of Justice.

According to the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv), Lidl does not sufficiently inform users that they are effectively paying for app-based discounts with their personal data.

A good reason to take a closer look at these apps.

Loyalty Apps from Lidl, Rewe & Co.: Is Collecting Points Really Worth It?

ÖKOTEST

Discounts or Data Harvesting? What Supermarket Loyalty Apps Really Offer - and Where the Pitfalls Lie

Many shoppers use the loyalty apps and bonus programs offered by major retail chains like Rewe, Lidl, and Kaufland. But consumer advocates are raising concerns. On Tuesday, the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart dismissed a lawsuit against the “Lidl Plus” app, though it allowed an appeal to the Federal Court of Justice.

According to the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv), Lidl does not adequately inform users that they are effectively paying for app-based discounts with their personal data.

A good reason to take a closer look at what these apps really offer - and at what cost.

Image, quality, and price

ARD

SWR MARKTCHECK

Aldi: How cheap, fresh, and good is the discount store really?

Spaghetti, apple juice, gardening tools—we compare random samples with the competition as well as brands and private labels. Aldi is reinventing itself in some ways. Where do customers benefit when shopping?

Aldi is Germany's oldest and first discounter. Aldi Süd alone generates around 18 billion euros in sales every year. Together, Süd and Nord are Germany's largest discounter. There are many reasons to shop at Aldi. Customers appreciate quality, price, and freshness, for example. 

But is that really true? How cheap is Aldi really? How good is the quality of the products?  And what about animal welfare and other issues?

Save money

Zeit Online

There is one way in particular to shop more cheaply. Here it is

Prices in supermarkets are more or less the same everywhere. Nevertheless, you can still save money: by checking out special offers like grandpa used to do – only in 2025 mode.

The usual shopping tips always sound like they're aimed at idiots: plan ahead, don't go to the supermarket hungry, buy cheap store brands, pick up expired quark at a discount in the evening. This is probably because we occasionally act a little stupid when shopping, in the sense of being irrational. So, it's good to shop when you're full, but there's an even better tip for dealing with the 2.80-euro-for-a-pretzel??? inflation shock. I claim it's the only one that's really worthwhile.

Price jump for hazelnuts: Will chocolate and spreads become more expensive?

MDR

Poor harvests in Turkey are threatening the global supply of hazelnuts. Chocolate and chocolate spread manufacturers are already struggling with high cocoa prices, as are bakeries. The lower yield of Turkish hazelnuts will also cause their price to rise. The expected price increase is causing problems for many companies. Nudossi, for example, has a hazelnut content of 36 percent. However, demand for nut nougat spreads remains high. Is there an alternative to Turkish hazelnuts? Farms in central Germany also grow hazelnuts on plantations.

smhaggle is listed as the data provider/source.

Are loyalty apps from Lidl & Co. even worth it?

CIO

Collect points, unlock extra discounts, and save money when shopping: at least, that's the promise made by retailers' bonus programs and apps. However, consumer advocates view these critically.

ewe, Lidl, Kaufland: Almost all major retail chains have an app that customers can use on their smartphones. They use it to advertise their products and special offers. Consumers can create shopping lists and receive recipe ideas. Those who register can also take advantage of bonus and loyalty programs at many retailers. Some offer additional items, while others offer extra discounts on reduced products. In many cases, customers receive discount coupons if they reach a certain purchase amount within a month. 

Retail expert Carsten Kortum from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Heilbronn sees a new trend in the advertising of offers by food retailers. “Many low prices apply exclusively to registered customers with the app.”