Germany’s Federal Association of Online Trade (Bundesverband Onlinehandel – BVOH) has become a member of the German Retail Association (Handelsverband Deutschland – HDE), effective since 1 October 2022.
The association will maintain its legal independence and autonomy, according to a press release.
Oliver Prothmann, the president of BVOH, commented, “Both retail and politics need innovative and functioning digital solutions, which the BVOH and HDE will now develop together.
“With the HDE, we have gained a strong partner in business and politics, to be able to bring retail into a great future.”
BVOH
Since its inception in 2006, the BVOH has represented small and medium-sized online retailers in politics and business.
Its goal is to create a new commercial sales channel with professional dealers that allows consumers to buy and receive all kinds of goods online.
The association has helped online retail reach the level of professionalism that customers value today, the HDE noted.
Stephan Tromp, deputy general manager of the HDE, said, “We are very pleased to welcome the BVOH as a new member association in the HDE family. With its medium-sized membership and orientation, it will help to sharpen the view of the needs of medium-sized companies and the corresponding political framework in times of the platform economy and digital trade.”
Prothmann added, “Online retail has come of age. The BVOH’s mission is accomplished. Now, together with the HDE, we are starting a new era by using our experience to digitise the entire trade more quickly.”
The HDE is the umbrella organisation of the German retail trade, representing the interests of the industry vis-à-vis politicians and the public at federal, state and EU levels.
In Germany, the retail trade sector comprises approximately 300,000 retail companies generating annual sales of more than €580 billion. It employs around three million people spread across 450,000 locations.
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
