Leipzig: "The Aldi Russians" reopen their doors – with embarrassing incidents

"Russians-Aldi" have reopened – but right now things are going wrong

3:02 p.m.: At the second opening of the branch of the so-called "Russes-Aldi" Mere in Leipzig, things went badly again. After closing the store at a reduced price for two days due to delivery problems, the store reopened on Wednesday.

But customers were also reopening partly in front of empty shelves. For example, the amount of sausages was absolutely insufficient, as bild.de reports. A spokesman for the discounter explained, according to the portal, the reasons for the empty shelves: "We did not expect such a crowd.Many products were sold."

Apparently, it does not seem clear if the branch will be open permanently this time. The spokeswoman said bild.de: "We can not exclude that this comes back to delivery difficulties."

Going back and forth to "Russen-Aldi" Mere: Germany branch again open

Update of February 6th at 11:29 am: After problems with the suppliers, the Russian discounter "Mere" had to close its first store in Leipzig. But after the temporary closure, the pioneering branch has now reopened. Customers can now buy again on the market "Mere" of Leipzig, after the arrival of new products, announced Wednesday a spokesperson of the company.

The Russian parent company Torgservis, which operates according to its own information in Eastern Europe and Asia 928 discount stores, opened the first branch of "Russian Aldi" in Leipzig the previous week. Around the discounter, there were already many whirlpools in advance.

Due to bottlenecks in deliveries, the pioneer branch in Leipzig had to be closed Monday after just one week for two days. A large number of products have already been sold due to the high demand of the early days, explained the company.

The so-called "Russians Aldi" Mere offers mainly cheap food products. On less than 1,000 square meters, which are poorly furnished, are also sold textiles, pharmacy and household items. The German subsidiary TS-Markt wants to open after the start in Leipzig new branches in eastern Germany. More concrete plans, however, did not name the company on Wednesday.

In Leipzig, the company must close after a week – that's what the company says

Update of February 5 at 11:42 am: On Monday, the Russian discount store "Mere" has surprisingly closed its doors after only a week – if only for two days. Officials have now commented on the breakdown.

"We did not expect the attack of the early days," said Monday a spokeswoman for the company. Central German newspaper from Halle. Several products have been sold. Rumors that bottlenecks would have to do with long delivery routes from Eastern Europe have dismissed the spokesman: "The problems have nothing to do with foreign suppliers "

A trade expert from the University of Leipzig said during a conversation with the newspaper about possible deeper problems with Mere. "Only logistics costs, at least 100, but 200 to 300 branches are needed," warned Gerd Hessert, an honorary professor of business management in the ZM, even before the release of the store in Leipzig.

It is possible that this vulnerability has now become noticeable. As of Monday, the only Germany, but still open – so at least according to the notice posted at the store the business plan (see below).

Leipzig: "Russians-Aldi" After just one week

Update of February 4th: "Dear customers, because of the very high demand, our agency will be closed on 04.02.2019 and 05.02.2019", says the note of the door which is on the closed door of the first German agency Mere , located at 260 Tauchaer Straße in Leipzig,

About 100 stores should follow, he said. But even the first is struggling with delivery problems. This is obviously the reason for the closure. "We reacted very quickly, but we had to understand that our suppliers also needed a deadline," he says on the note, which is the pictureThe newspaper is available. The store, which opened on January 30, wants to reopen Wednesday (February 6).

I just wanted to give the fight to established discounters such as Aldi and Lidl. But that must obviously be postponed.

Just in Leipzig: experts have dark forecasts for "Russian-Aldi"

Update of February 2nd at 2:31 pm: Is the concept of the so-called "Russian Aldi" really useful for gaining a foothold in the German market? Some experts have doubts there – and for different reasons, like this one world reported. Thus, offers in unusual XXL formats, such as 1.7 kg of tuna in sunflower oil or 2.5 kg of frozen blackberries, are anything but negotiable. These amounts are only suitable for large families or for special events such as celebrations.

Thomas Roeb, a business expert from the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, considers Mere a "stock broker". Eric Maier, second-clbad professor at the Handelshochschule Leipzig, complains of the random badortment of products: "It is essentially German B products and Polish and Czech products." Aldi, Lidl and Co., on the other hand, have paved the way in recent years to leave conventional discounters and now offer fresh products and branded products.

This is also due to the development in Germany because instead of good deals, consumers are increasingly looking for better quality. For example, the former boss of Rewe had noted some time ago that the financial situation of millions of families would have been so relaxed "that they would like to spend a few extra euros for a bottle of wine and a bigger steak". Maier, already mentioned, wants the new competitor in the world but we must not forget: "For consumers who really want to save money, a visit to Mere can be an alternative."

Another problem of the "Russian-Aldi": due to the lack of widespread distribution, customers should go a long way. In contrast, 90% of Germans have access to a discount store in fifteen minutes. Roeb warns thus: "The idea of ​​marketing the leftover food cheap already had others, but could not prevail".

Video: Customers say that to the new "Russian Aldi"

"Russen-Aldi" in Germany: Mere also sells Tupperware and frozen foods

Update from February 2nd at 8:58 am: The supermarket of the Russian entrepreneurial group Torgservis opened in Leipzig seems to work well. Meanwhile, the first images of the same branch of Mere – also called "Russen-Aldi" – have reached us. These show: In addition to many products sold directly on pallets, there are also products that could be offered in the German counterpart. The range also includes Tupperware in various colors and products directly from the freezer. The badortment of basic markets will include 2000 own brands.

"Russian Aldi" in Germany: a cabaret artist takes new discounters to the grain

Update from February 1st at 9:45 pm: The debut of the Russian discounter Mere hit the high waves in Germany – the hype is now also a cause for ridicule: the famous Bavarian cabaret artist Helmut Schleich has "Mere", but above all the buying behavior of the Germans, for a contribution to the broadcast "Radio Tips" In the transmitter Bayern2 taken at the grain.

"Since Tuesday, he is there, the Russian," said Schleich, referring to the fears of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, fueled for decades. "The engine gets the best engine oil, the body has to deal with the cheapest salad oil – and that's where it goes, the Russian," he laughed at the behavior of Purchase of Germans. With reviews (see below), we still had to wait: "No complaints go with us nothing!"

"There are only branches in East Germany, why, because in the West the rents are too high," Schleich joked in his glossary. "Look, high rents protect Russians, yes, does that mean that we could have completely saved the whole of deterrence and NATO if we had had such rents before the fall of the Berlin Wall, as today? ", concluded the cabaret artist – in keeping with the US release of the Russia disarmament agreement.

Cheap products at Mere in quality control – These tips are given by an expert

Update of February 1st, 2019 at 6:32 am: Since the opening of the first branch Mere in Germany, the mocking prices of "Russen-Aldi" have been the main subject. A price comparison has already shown that Mother requires far less products such as milk, sausages and coffee than other low cost discount companies such as Aldi or Lidl (in the table below, an overview of the price comparison).

But what about the quality of products at all dumped prices? And what about items with a "B-Ware" label? The information portal "Focus" has answered these questions and, with the help of an expert, explains how such low prices are possible.

For example, Mere offers the Kilo Schnitzel (B-Ware) at around three euros or a 500g meatloaf for less than one euro. Does the quality of the products suffer from these prices? "I would not bite in there," said Armin Valet's "Focus" of Hamburg's consumer center. "Especially with milk and meat products, we already have a relatively low level in Germany and even if the discounters are below price, very skeptical is appropriate."

Valet also reveals that B products are products "rejected by third parties for quality reasons". Although the legal requirements have probably been met, "otherwise the products should not be sold," said Valet at "Focus". However, there are doubts about quality and hygiene. Because the goods could also be residual waste.

The expert also noted problems of breeding at such low prices and complained of "Focus": "At such low prices, it is almost necessary to badume that meat products come from cruel breeding, not to mention working conditions. people who make up the production line. "A recommendation to buy looks a lot different!

"Russians-Aldi" More in Germany: what are the prices compared to Lidl and Aldi?

Update from January 30 at 10am: On Tuesday, the first branch of the Russian discount discounter "Mere" opened under heavy pressure in Leipzig. As reported "Bild", before the official opening at 9 am, many customers were at the door and wanted to be among the first to have an image of the goods of the first "Russian Aldi" in Germany. The "Mere" property offer differs significantly compared to other discount stores like Aldi or Lidl.

Remarkable: Instead of fresh products, the bread, butter and water are to the "mother" according to "the picture" but rather products such as milk from the Czech Republic, tea from Poland and Austrian wine offered at ridiculous absolute prices.

But in addition to a different offer, of course, the question arises as to how far the prices are different from those of other discounters. The "Bild" has created a comparison between the three inexpensive channels and of course we do not want to deprive you of this price comparison.

Thus, the comparison of prices shows that purchases in the new "Russen-Aldi" can certainly be worth it. Because in the overall comparison, there is a price difference of several euros.

More than in Germany: the first store opened with a huge crowd – but the customer lacks many things

Update from January 29 at 16:00: There are new unsatisfied voices among the first customers of the Russian discounter "Mere" in Germany. Focus online quoted another man who had not found what he was looking for in the new Leipzig branch. However, this does not seem to be a permanent problem. The two bottles of wine that he bought were "even cheaper than Aldi," said the customer. "But actually, I wanted to buy frozen food, it's not in the system yet."

Not everyone is satisfied with his first visit to "Russian-Aldi" Mere

Update from January 29 at 1:10 pm: During the day the market fills up, as picture reports. An on-site reporter describes the offer made by the Russians, Aldi: "On clear and cold tiles on neon light palettes with milk, coffee and cartons filled with wine bottles, in the corridors, the forklift truck is always in motion, canned and high shelf glbades.Pleasant purchases have a different appearance, "so the description of the picture-Reportersfocus a customer quotes: "There is a lack of fresh vegetables, I can not cook a full lunch like that."

Update from January 29 at 11:40 am: The big attack on the new Russians Aldi in Leipzig Plaußig / Portitz has apparently not taken place yet. A video on the net shows the first customers in the cheap market.

Update from January 29 at 7:30: The first store in Leipzig has just opened, the Russian discounter Torgservis already planning the next store in Germany: as the Leipziger Volkszeitung The second market of the new chain has to be created in Zwickau.

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The first branch of Mere opened on Tuesday: bad looks, low prices

Leipzig – Aldi, Lidl – and "Mother". So, are the future big chains of discounters in Germany hot? On Tuesday, the Russian budget market wants to take the first step, because it then opened its doors in a former Aldi store in Leipzig, the first Mere market in Germany.

Mother wants to be even cheaper than Aldi and Lidl

It is only the beginning, there will be soon 100 branches in this country. The goal: the chain of the Russian company Torgservis wants to be even cheaper than the competition. In Russia and Asia, the chain is very successful: it has 928 branches. Expansion to Europe is therefore only the next logical step. The fact that the discounter market in Germany is a lucrative business is no longer a secret: 80% of consumers buy in one of two supermarkets Aldi and Lidl. Now, the Russian discount giant Torgservis wants a piece of the lucrative cake. The plan is to undermine the established chains in the price.

Barely advertising, no frills – but 20 percent cheaper?

For this, we must do without anything that costs too much. These include advertising, as well as the presentation of products. The consumer receives the goods on large pallets in front of his nose. Not even the shelves are there. This is not good – but not expensive!

Customers of Aldi or Lidl should notice a strong contrast on these photos when they think about their past shopping experience. For some time now, German markets have been careful to get rid of "cheap image". The products are usually presented beautiful and chic. In contrast, the slogan "Low Cost" applies to "Mother". Every Day "- low prices, everyday.

With the extension of the chain in Poland and Romania, one could already get an idea of ​​the German clientele: it reduced by 20% the price of discounters at the price of sausages, noodles or coffee. However, the range of 90 to 95% of Russian clean brands.

Expert at the same time: Aldi and Lidl "will fight"

According to Martin Fbadnacht, marketing expert at the WHU Business School in Düsseldorf, the Leipzig site should not be a coincidence. Focus online, "I think there is a customer base in some parts of Germany for such a discount store."

But he also said: "The concept will not be a success because it does not yield anything economically.To succeed as a discount retailer in this sector, you need a significant mbad, many shops and restaurants. a strong demand, including from low cost manufacturers, even 100 branches are not enough to succeed. "

The past gives him reason: Wal-Mart, Intermarché (with Spar) and Real have failed with a similar concept. But Aldi and Lidl should still be warned. "I guess Aldi and Lidl are watching the start," says Matthias Queck of Retailytics, the group of badysts Food diaryIf someone is cheaper with comparable quality, market leaders will "fight back," he says. The next branch could open soon in Zwickau: on the homepage, Mere is already looking for a branch manager for the new location.

Learn more about the new discounter in our original article: New discounter in Germany – The Russian channel opened on Tuesday.

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