The Platform Group outperformed its 2023 financial forecast. GMV increased to €705M, beating the predicted €700M. Net sales reached €440.8M, slightly above forecast. Adjusted EBITDA improved to €22.6M, while net income reached €26.9M.

The Breuninger family is exploring a sale of their department store group, valued at $2.7B. Interest has been expressed by 31 entities, including retail groups and private equity investors. Initial bids are expected by late October.

eBay DE has introduced a new feature allowing sellers to link their DHL business accounts for automated return labels. This service lets sellers use their own negotiated DHL rates, improving efficiency and the buyer experience.

Bookbot, an online second-hand book marketplace, secured $4.3M from Genesis Growth Equity Fund and Miton. The funds will help expand in the DACH region. Founded by the Gazdoš brothers, Bookbot aims to double its sales to $26M by 2024.

Delivery Hero is entering the financial services sector, potentially offering loans to restaurants via its platform. The Berlin-based company is hiring for its Fintech division, aiming to introduce credit products to markets in 70 countries.

Ceconomy, MediaMarkt's parent, saw sales rise 6.6% to €4.92B ($5.4B). The European Football Championship led to a spike in TV sales, while e-commerce grew 10.9% to €1B ($1.1B). Retail media revenues also doubled, contributing to strong profits.

PayPal introduced a new package tracking service in Germany on August 14, 2024. This service lets merchants synchronize shipping statuses automatically with PayPal, saving time, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Merchants can now offer real-time shipping updates, reducing customer inquiries by up to 80%. The service is free for German retailers and available via PayPal Checkout.

Starting August 13, 2024, Tchibo and Lieferando are piloting an express delivery service. Customers in Berlin and Hamburg can choose from 800 Tchibo products, with delivery in 60 minutes. Tchibo aims to reach more customers quickly, and Lieferando plans more partnerships.

HelloFresh reports 0.9% sales growth to $2.1B, with a 45% increase in prepared meals to $571M. While meal kit sales drop by 9.3%, the company shifts focus to high-value customers, boosting the average order value by 5.6%.

Douglas Group's net sales grew 7.3% in Q3 2023/24, reaching $1.1B. The group increased its full-year sales growth guidance to 8.5% due to strong Q3 and first nine months performance. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months rose 11.5% to $721M.

Zalando's profits surged 18.5% in Q2 2024, driven by strong performance in sports and beauty. Gross merchandise volume grew by 2.8%, and revenue rose 3.4% to $4.15B. Zalando's shares jumped as much as 7%, as active customers increased to 49.8M.

Starting October 1, Otto's new tiered commission model will apply higher rates to cheaper products and lower rates to more expensive ones. This shift favors high-priced items, making it tougher for retailers selling low-cost goods.

Zalando announced it will open a new tech hub in Shenzhen, China, focusing on social commerce expertise. Despite this move, the German fashion giant has no current plans to launch its e-commerce platform in China, focusing on growth opportunities in Europe.

Trivago has acquired a 30% stake in Holisto for $10M. Holisto uses AI to create hotel deals. Trivago can buy the remaining 70% within 15 months for up to $60M. Holisto, based in Israel, provides value to hotels by offering deals not available elsewhere. More details will be shared in Trivago's upcoming earnings call.

Too Good To Go, known for saving food from waste, now offers delivery in Germany. New surprise boxes from brands like Marabu, Neoh, and Toblerone feature items with minor packaging defects or near best-before dates.

Delivery Hero merges foodora, Yemeksepeti, and foodpanda, forming its second-largest organization. This merger, led by Tareq Barto, aims to enhance operational excellence and expand market leadership. The merger ensures customer service continuity and support for affected employees.

Adidas increased its marketing spend by 15% to $781M in Q2 2024. This boosted brand momentum and improved sales. Footwear revenue rose 17%, and overall revenues for the first half of 2024 increased 6% to $12.5B.

Rossmann introduces contactless pick-up stations for online orders, trialing in 10 stores starting in Munich on July 27. Customers receive QR codes for easy collection, enhancing shopping convenience and efficiency.

Amazon's new Berlin micromobility hub will use e-cargo bikes to deliver 1.5M parcels annually, part of a $437M investment to decarbonize their German transport network. This initiative, starting July 2024, aims to reduce emissions and traffic in Berlin.

Grover raised €50M in a bridge financing round, including investment from Cool Japan Fund. This capital will help Grover, a leader in rental commerce, to promote a circular economy and expand its global reach.

Aldi Süd has launched pickup stations for their delivery service, starting July 15. This allows customers to schedule pickups at their convenience. Initially, the service is available in select cities, with a minimum purchase of 20 EUR until July 24, after which it will be 50 EUR.

Wolt opens a new virtual supermarket in Hamburg, offering over 5,000 products. Orders can be delivered within 35 minutes. Local products from Luciella's Ice Cream and North Coast Coffee Roasters are included at launch.

Zalando’s Q1 sales surged 46-48%, reaching $2.7B. The gross merchandise volume increased over 50% to $3.2B. Adjusted earnings projected at $87M, compared to a $99M loss last year. Full results to be published on May 6.

Frasers Group, advised by Goldman Sachs, is eyeing Yoox Net-a-Porter from Richemont. Richemont seeks to sell after a failed deal with Farfetch. Frasers has been actively acquiring luxury rivals, including Matches Fashion and Coggles, indicating a strategy to dominate the market.

Restaurant software provider allO has secured $5M in Seed funding led by 20VC. The company aims to expand its services across Germany and Europe, leveraging partnerships with major companies and focusing on ethnic restaurants. allO’s growth reflects a 10x increase in annual recurring revenue and a 4x rise in average revenue per user in the past year.

Carvago, through its acquisition of InstaMotion, is set to become the largest online used car dealer in the DACH region. The deal boosts EAG Group's portfolio, with InstaMotion achieving €80M sales in 2023. InstaMotion will remain a distinct brand under the leadership of Nikolas Deskovic.

Rewe has launched Europe’s largest autonomous supermarket in Hamburg. The store spans 1,200 sqm and features 20,000 items. Customers can use four different payment methods, including a new computer-vision system that doesn't require scanning.

Delivery Hero warns of a potential €400M antitrust fine due to alleged market-sharing agreements and no-poach deals. The issue follows EU raids on their offices and a significant increase in provisions set aside for the fine.

About You's Q1 2024/25 saw adjusted EBITDA triple to $15M from $4.2M. Sales grew by 2.2% to $518.3M, significantly improving the margin to 2.9% from 0.8%. Co-CEO Tarek Müller attributes success to efficiency gains and cost control on their 10th anniversary.

Hood.de is updating its platform to include new integrations for Plentymarkets, JTL, Tradebyte, and Channel Pilot Pro. A new site design will launch in August, enhancing user experience and keeping low sales fees.

Since the pandemic, Lieferando couriers have secured more rights, resulting in over 200 council members in 24 committees. Despite better organization, labor disputes are common, with potential strikes looming if demands are not met.

Delivery Hero's AGM on June 19th showed profits but hid a $2.3B loss for 2023. Sales grew to $9.9B, up 16%, but far below past growth. Investors must dig into reports to see true financials.

Zalando and About You react to the success of Shein and Temu's direct delivery model. About You will offer items directly from factories. Zalando relies on its logistics network. Shein reported $45B sales, Temu's parent $37B in 2023.

Platform Group buys Aplanta, expanding into the $1.7B artificial plant industry. The acquisition will be finalized in July. CEO Dominik Benner aims to grow platform partners and apply TPG's software solutions. Purchase price undisclosed.

Hive Technologies raised €28.2M to expand its operations platform. Founded in 2020, Hive saves commerce brands 17% on costs and boosts revenue by 24%. This round includes €10M venture debt from Atempo Growth. Key investors include Earlybird Venture Capital and Tiger Global.

Alibaba.com introduced its EasyStart package and AI tools to help German SMEs with digitalization and global trade. The EasyStart Membership offers a 3-month trial for $9, down from $399. AI tools like Smart Product Listing and Chat Co-pilot enhance digital presence.

Mayd, the Berlin-based medication delivery service, has declared bankruptcy. Founder Hanno Heintzenberg attributes the failure to market challenges and delays in e-prescription implementation. Competitors like Kurando and First A have also exited the market, signaling a broader industry downturn.

Secondhand retailer Momox achieved record sales of $372M in 2023, a 3.2% increase. The book and media sector grew by 7.7%. The fashion segment expanded to France and partnered with About You. CEO Heiner Kroke highlighted secondhand's resilience.

eBay Germany introduces Seller Cockpit Pro improvements, updated messaging system, and new marketing tools. Innovations include an easy-to-use advertising cockpit, product research via app, and eBay Fulfillment enhancements. DHL service and new General Product Safety Regulation preparations are also highlighted.

Recyclehero, founded in 2020 by Nadine Herbrich and Alessandro Cocco in Hamburg, collects old clothes and recyclables from homes in five German cities. They use climate-neutral e-bikes and aim to boost local recycling and reduce waste.

KaDeWe, Berlin's luxury department store, is closing its online shop as part of a restructuring plan. The decision affects 26 employees, who will leave by August's end. KaDeWe shifts focus to in-store business under new owner Central Group.

zooplus, with 17 years in the pet supply industry, will launch a marketplace in November. The Munich-based company aims to expand beyond its 8,000 product range. CEO Geoffroy Lefebvre highlighted their customer-centric approach at Shoptalk Europe.

Delivery Hero is facing pressure from activist investor Sachem Head to become profitable. CEO Niklas Östberg has been emphasizing profitability, but the company’s stock struggles. Sachem Head, holding 3.6%, pushes for board changes, aiming to replace Östberg. Delivery Hero recently sold its Taiwan business to Uber Eats for €878M, part of ongoing restructuring efforts.

Europe's largest food delivery firm, Just Eat Takeaway, teams up with Amazon to offer free delivery for Prime members in Germany, Austria, and Spain. This partnership aims to enhance customer convenience and expand market reach. The service launches through Lieferando in Germany and Austria, and Just Eat in Spain.

OTTO presents its new Circular Collection, featuring 18 items including trousers, tops, and dresses, priced from $20 to $70. All items can be recycled into new fibers. By 2025, OTTO aims for full sustainability and climate neutrality by 2030.

Amazon plans to invest $10B in Germany, focusing on AWS and logistics. The company aims to grow its workforce to 40,000 by 2024, reinforcing Germany as a key market. Recent investments include a $8.8B AWS expansion in the Rhine-Main area.

Otto's fee changes effective August 1: basic fees up from $43.30 to $108, commissions up by 1-8%, hardware sales fees increased from 7% to 13%. Fee adjustments announced for October, sustainable products to see reduced commissions.

Faircado, a Berlin-based AI-powered shopping assistant, raised €3M in pre-seed funding led by World Fund. The funds will help expand into the UK and France and improve image recognition technology. The round included investments from Accel, General Catalyst, and others.

Mondu has raised an extra €30M in debt financing from VVRB, adding to the €20M secured in 2022. This brings Mondu's total funds to over €115M. Founded in 2021, Mondu plans to expand its B2B payment solutions in Europe, supporting retailers like Notebooksbilliger and PCSpecialist.

The Platform Group announced the acquisition of Wehrmann GmbH through GINDUMAC. The deal boosts their GMV forecast to $1.2B and sales to $600M for 2025. CEO Dominik Benner highlights positive market developments and countercyclical strategies.