Coffee and Retail Across Europe
Tchibo GmbH operates in the coffee and consumer goods sectors and is one of Germany’s largest retail and consumer goods companies. In addition to its well-known coffee products, the company offers a wide range of everyday consumer goods through regularly changing themed collections. These products include fashion, garden furniture, electronics, kitchen equipment, toys and sports items.
Tchibo sells its products through multiple channels, including its own stores, shop-in-shop locations in supermarkets and bakeries, and online retail. The company operates around 550 stores in Germany and about 320 additional stores in other countries.
From Mail-Order Coffee to International Retail Brand
Tchibo was founded in Hamburg in 1949 by Max Herz and Carl Tchilling-Hiryan as a mail-order business for roasted coffee. In the early years the coffee was delivered by post rather than sold in shops.
The first Tchibo store opened in Hamburg in 1955, and the company expanded rapidly in the following decades. In the 1970s Tchibo began selling household products alongside coffee, introducing the rotating themed product collections that remain a central part of the brand today.
The acquisition of coffee producer Eduscho in 1997 strengthened Tchibo’s position in the global coffee market. Today the company operates thousands of retail outlets and shop-in-shop locations and remains a major international coffee and retail brand.
Headquarters in Hamburg
Tchibo’s headquarters are located in Hamburg. The company is fully owned by the Herz family through the holding company Maxingvest.
In 2024 Tchibo generated revenue of €3.36 billion and employs around 11,000 people worldwide, including roughly 6,800 in Germany.
Jobs and Career Opportunities
Tchibo offers career opportunities for professionals in areas such as IT, logistics, production, retail, marketing and corporate management.
The company also offers dual study programmes in fields such as business administration, international management and business informatics.
Vocational training programmes are available in areas including retail, technical professions and food technology. Internships and trainee programmes are also offered.
Sustainability and Diversity
According to the company, sustainability is a key element of its strategy. Tchibo has introduced programmes to promote environmentally and socially responsible coffee cultivation and works to improve the living and working conditions of coffee farmers. The company also supports climate-friendly farming practices and promotes fair income opportunities in coffee-growing regions.
Beyond coffee production, Tchibo is one of the world’s largest users of organic cotton and produces clothing and textiles partly certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Tchibo also promotes diversity and an inclusive working environment. Employees from more than 80 nationalities work at the company, and according to the company nearly 40 percent of leadership positions are held by women.
For more information, visit the Tchibo website.
