Family history in retail: How the Milkau dynasty is growing!

In German retail, the Milkau family is an exemplary success model. Anna-Maria and Gerhard Milkau took over the food department at the Engesser department store in Geisingen in 1977 and thus started their trip in retail. The originally 100 square meter sales area has now increased to 6,350 square meters. Holger Milkau, the current owner, now operates five Edeka markets and a bakery, with other markets.

The family is closely integrated into the company; Holger Milkau started the first inventory at the age of five. His daughter Gabriele and his son Janik are also active in the family business. Sonja Milkau, who takes care of the administration, emphasizes the importance of separation of work and family, while the tasks in the company are clearly distributed.

expansion and future plans

The Milkau family has big plans: In July 2024, a new market in Geisingen will open and the takeover of the Edeka market Siedler in Tuttlingen is also due. A new e-center in Tuttlingen, which is delayed in the ground due to asbestos finds, is to be opened at the end of 2026 or early 2027, with an extended sales area of ​​around 10,000 square meters. At the moment, 235 employees are employed in the markets, many E-Center employees work in the existing markets during the construction phase.

Holger Milkau started self -employed in 1998 at the age of 25 and already opened its first market on 750 square meters. His expansion now includes a beverage market in Geisingen (2005), a market in Aldingen (2009) and Edeka in Immendingen (2015). The family plans to take over the market in Blumberg to further expand their presence in the Tuttlingen district. Through the various markets, synergies enable efficient use of personnel and suppliers.

Another highlight of corporate development is the introduction of your own “Aunt Milkau” brand, which specifically supports regional suppliers. In addition to the care of employees, training is a central point. 30 trainees are to be hired annually, and a total of 90 trainees will be expected in the coming years, including six from Indonesia that will begin in 2025.

In a broader context, Edeka is a responsible retailer. The EDEKA group, which was founded in Leipzig on November 25, 1907, is one of the five-sales food dealers in Europe and currently employs around 410,700 employees. In 2023, the company generated sales of 70.7 billion euros. Edeka runs around 12,000 shops, including 4,500 independent retailers. Among other things, the own brands include "good & cheap".

The story of Edeka is characterized by numerous developments, including the takeover of Netto brand-discount and the introduction of various own brands. In the past, EDEKA has also experienced challenges, such as allegations of pesticide burdens in food, while it also shows a strong commitment to regional products and sustainability.