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Germany's retailers are getting into the business with corona rapid tests.
The Aldi discounter will start this week.
From Saturday, tests for self-use will be sold as promotional goods in both the north and south branches - for 24.99 euros per pack, each with five individual tests.
The delivery quantity is limited to one pack per customer.
Aldi has therefore already warned: "Should the rapid tests be sold out on the first day of the campaign due to the high demand, we ask for your understanding." A spokeswoman has already announced replenishment: "More goods will be delivered in the next week."
But then Aldi gets plenty of competition.
For example from dm, Müller and Rossmann: The three drugstore chains have already indicated that they will be selling rapid tests in their branches from March 9th - if the manufacturers' delivery promises are met.
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But other retailers are also in the starting blocks, as shown by a current WELT survey of retail formats that are currently or will be open soon, such as supermarkets and discounters, health food stores and hypermarkets, as well as hardware stores and bookshops.
At the discounter Norma, for example, only the last few preparations are apparently missing.
"The currently much-cited Corona self-tests could be on Norma's shelves soon," says a spokeswoman.
One is in discussion with the appropriate providers.
"If all the requirements are met and the providers can then quickly provide enough tests, it will only take a few days before we can offer them in all branches in Germany."
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The plans at the Kaufland hypermarket chain, which can already give an exact date, are also specific: “We are currently planning to include corona self-tests for laypeople in our range in all branches in all branches, presumably from the beginning of the eleventh calendar week. "
Germany's largest grocer Edeka also senses good business and is working on a listing - but does not provide any information on a possible sales start.
The same applies to the group subsidiary Netto.
"With availability, Netto Marken-Discount plans to sell corona rapid tests," it says from there.
Other retailers are still in an exploratory phase, including the discounter Lidl, the hypermarket chains Real and Globus and the Rewe group, which includes the supermarket chain of the same name, the discounter Penny and the DIY store Toom.
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After the first self-tests were approved by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), the development is being observed, according to the Rewe headquarters.
Look at the approval of providers and the actual availability of products.
"At the same time, we are checking a corresponding offer in our stores," says a spokesman.
It is similar at Globus: "We are currently in the process of testing the corona rapid tests in order to be able to offer a corresponding product range as quickly as possible," says Steffen Schmidt, Head of Dry Food, Drinks and Drugstore at Globus.
While at Rewe and Globus it sounds like it is only a matter of time before they get into the rapid test business, Real is much more cautious.
“Due to the short-term nature of the approval, our company has not yet made a decision on this.
The matter is currently with the responsible departments for examination, "says a spokesman.
Especially since legal issues have to be considered in order not to have problems with supervisory authorities, as lawyers emphasize.
"Providers of such tests must inform themselves in advance about the legal requirements for production and marketing in order not to run the risk of bringing non-marketable products onto the market," says lawyer Barbara Claus from the Rödl law firm, who specializes in food and pharmaceutical law and partners to consider.
The BfArM had only approved self-tests in Germany for the first time last week, with which anyone can test themselves for corona by taking a smear on their nose.
Even organic stores are now dealing with it and are not outright ruling out the sale of such self-tests, although they are not exactly part of the core range of this division.
But it is still too early to make statements about a possible listing, says a spokeswoman for the Alnatura chain.
Competitor Denn's organic market is a bit more researched.
"We are currently looking into adding corona self-tests to our range in order to be able to contribute to the joint fight against pandemics on this point too.
Reliability and stable availability are crucial for us ”, says Karsten Johann, who is Head of Category Management Beverages at Denns.
Drogerie dm also provides test centers
Bookseller Thalia Mayersche is also thinking.
“We are thinking about it, but a decision has not yet been made on the subject.
We are now concentrating first on the reopening of the bookstores next Monday, "says a spokeswoman.
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The bottom line, however, is that rapid tests should soon be available nationwide and on a large scale in retail, as the survey shows.
Most of those questioned are still silent on the details.
Aldi alone has now revealed the specific conditions.
The drugstores, in turn, are also announcing quantity restrictions, but have not yet given any prices.
"Schools and day-care centers should be able to be visited regularly again, which is why we will also offer the tests as cheaply as possible," says Sebastian Bayer, the managing director of dm responsible for marketing and procurement.
The chain from Karlsruhe also provides space for the establishment of public rapid test centers, in which German citizens can get free tests once a week as part of the federal government's new test strategy.
The campaign will initially be launched in front of around 250 stores in Baden-Württemberg.
The State Minister for Social Affairs there, Manne Lucha, welcomes the initiative: “A careful opening strategy requires sufficiently large test capacities.
The economy can make an important contribution to the expansion of the test structures. "