Hamburg – November 07, 2026 -- Jörg Hieber, the 88-year-old EDEKA merchant whose 17-store group generates more than EUR 300 million in annual sales, received the 2026 Golden Sugar Loaf (Goldener Zuckerhut) in the "Personality" category at a ceremony in Berlin. EDEKA Honsel, a family-run retailer from Dorsten, won in the "Merchants" category.
The award has been presented since 1958 by trade publication Lebensmittel Zeitung and is regarded as the most important distinction in the German food industry.
Hieber group employs nearly 2,000 staff across 17 stores
EDEKA Hieber began in 1966 as a 60-square-meter grocery store in Höllstein, founded by Jörg and Anneliese Hieber. The company now operates 17 stores between Lörrach and Freiburg and employs nearly 2,000 people. It has collected around 50 industry awards, including seven "Supermarket of the Year" titles.
In 2013, the Frische Center Bad Krozingen won the EuroShop Retail Design Award, becoming the first food retailer honored with it in New York. The jury credited Hieber with early bets on a broad, deep and fresh assortment from entry-level prices to premium, large service counters and qualified customer advice.
Hieber chaired the EDEKA Zentrale supervisory board from 1999 to 2005
Hieber has served in regional EDEKA bodies since the 1980s. During his tenure as supervisory board chairman, he strengthened merchant independence, advanced the bundling of purchasing and supported the structural reform of the EDEKA wholesale operations.
Uwe Kohler, an independent EDEKA merchant and chairman of the EDEKA Zentrale administrative board, said in his laudatory speech that Hieber helped shape today's EDEKA group and consistently defended the entrepreneurial freedom of independent retailers.
EDEKA Honsel runs seven stores with more than 350 employees
EDEKA Honsel traces its history back 76 years to a small shop in Dorsten. Ralf Honsel took over several small stores from his father in 1993. The company now operates five EDEKA and two trinkgut stores.
The jury highlighted its large fresh counters, extensive regional delicatessen range, themed evenings and events, as well as store design and new shopping concepts. It also called the generational handover exemplary: Ralf Honsel involved his daughters early, and Julia Schlotmann-Honsel is now managing partner alongside him.
EDEKA Minden-Hannover's Sagorowski receives EUR 10,000 promotional prize
Dennis Sagorowski of the EDEKA Minden-Hannover wholesaler received the Golden Sugar Loaf Foundation's promotional prize. He started his career in 2019 at Marktkauf Meppen. After a dual degree program, he became deputy store manager at Marktkauf Rangsdorf, responsible for about 120 employees, while completing a master's degree.
Since October 2025, Sagorowski has worked at the Minden headquarters, coordinating a cost and process optimization project in retail. He plans to use the EUR 10,000 prize money for business coach training.
EDEKA group posted EUR 77.3 billion in 2025 sales
The EDEKA group generated sales of EUR 77.3 billion in 2025 with about 10,900 stores and about 417,500 employees. It relies on roughly 3,200 independent merchants and six regional wholesale companies. It also trains about 20,900 apprentices.