REWE Group International, one of Europe's largest retail and tourism groups, made its visit to the Midea Group Headquarters in Shunde on May 8, 2025. The delegation, led by Patric Gehlhaus (General Manager Operations) and John Li (Division Manager), explored opportunities for holistic collaboration across Midea's diverse product portfolios. 

Ralph Kobsik, General Manager of Midea Europe, and Sebastian Beier, Head of Sales Home Appliances, met with REWE representatives. Midea's cross-division teams—Residential Air Conditioner (RAC), Refrigerator (REF), Laundry Appliance Division (LAD), Microwave and Cleaning Appliance (MCA), Kitchen and Water Heating Appliance (KWHA), and Small Domestic Appliances (SDA)—demonstrated their product lines and manufacturing expertise. REWE representatives were very impressed by the strength and size of the Midea Group and its international orientation!

Highlights of the visit

REWE representatives praised Midea's Lighthouse Factory—a fully automated, AI-driven production facility—as "unique and unimaginable," highlighting its cleanliness and quality control standards. 

Both parties agreed to formalize joint product roadmaps in coming weeks, leveraging Midea's R&D & product strengths and REWE's retail dominance.

This visit redefines the partnership—from transactional OEM ties to a shared strategic vision. Midea will keep on exploring innovative possibilities and creating business value within European markets. 

About REWE Group

With annual revenues of €96 billion in 2024 (two-thirds generated in Germany), REWE operates across 21 countries through brands like REWE supermarkets, PENNY discounters, BILLA, and TOOM DIY stores. Its six business segments span food retail, tourism, and consumer goods.