What are the largest department store chains in Germany in 2026?
Woolworth GmbH, Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof and Peek & Cloppenburg KG are the largest department store chains in Germany in 2026 based on the number of locations. Woolworth has the most locations with around 400–450 stores across all 16 federal states. Galeria operates approximately 60–70 department-store branches after restructuring, while Peek & Cloppenburg runs around 40–45 large-format stores nationwide.
Together, these three brands account for the majority of department-store-style locations in Germany, covering everything from affordable household goods to premium fashion and luxury shopping experiences.
Woolworth
≈ 400–450 LOCATIONS (January 15, 2026)
North Rhine-Westphalia holds the highest concentration of Woolworth stores, anchoring its 750-location German network. Its dominance relies on a “home-town supplier” model and 150 weekly new arrivals, offering 10,000 essentials at prices traditional department stores cannot match.
GALERIA (GALERIA Karstadt Kaufhof)
≈ 60–70 LOCATIONS (January 15, 2026)
North Rhine-Westphalia holds the highest concentration of Galeria stores, anchoring its 83-location German network. Its dominance relies on a “World Store” magnet model and premium omnichannel services, offering a curated high-end experience that traditional regional retailers cannot match.
Peek & Cloppenburg (P&C)
≈ 40–45 LOCATIONS (January 15, 2026)
North Rhine-Westphalia holds the highest concentration of Peek & Cloppenburg stores, anchoring its 67-location German network. Its dominance relies on a multi-brand omnichannel model and iconic architecture, offering a curated blend of luxury labels that traditional retailers cannot match.
Breuninger
≈ 17–19 LOCATIONS (January 15, 2026)
Baden-Württemberg holds the highest concentration of Breuninger stores, anchoring its 13-location network. Its dominance relies on a “perfect host” model, featuring 1,500 luxury brands, gourmet dining, and shuttle services that offer a premium experience traditional retailers cannot match.
KaDeWe
≈ 5–7 LOCATIONS (January 15, 2026)
Berlin is the exclusive home of KaDeWe, anchoring its legendary 60,000 sqm flagship. Its dominance relies on a “destination luxury” model, the world-renowned “Die Sechste” food hall, and OMA-designed architecture, offering a curated high-end experience that traditional regional retailers cannot match.
| Rank | Brand | Number of Locations | States Present In | Cities Present In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Woolworth | 400–450 | 16 | 300+ cities |
| #2 | Galeria | 60–70 | Most federal states | 50+ cities |
| #3 | Peek & Cloppenburg | 40–45 | Nationwide | 35+ cities |
| #4 | Breuninger | 17–19 | 8+ states | 15+ cities |
| #5 | KaDeWe Group | 5–7 | 3 | 3 cities |
