Rema 1000 reshuffles stores to give own-brand drinks more space

Rema 1000 plans to give its own-brand drinks more space in checkout fridges as part of a wide-ranging rearrangement of its Danish stores. According to Retailnews, the project, called “Much More Rema 1000”, will be rolled out across the chain’s entire network, which is set to reach 440 stores. For Denmark’s franchise sector, the news illustrates development within an existing store network rather than growth through new locations.

More checkout space for own-brand drinks

The specific change at the checkout concerns the products customers find in the fridge. According to Retailnews, Rema 1000 is taking greater control of this chilled display space, with more room to be allocated to the chain’s own-brand drinks. The publication reported the plans on 16 October 2026.

The project therefore involves more than moving products from one location to another. For drinks at the checkout, it also changes how space is allocated: the chain’s own products will have a more prominent position there.

However, it is important to distinguish between giving own-brand products more space and replacing the entire selection. The reported change is that own-brand drinks will occupy more space. It does not state that all other drinks will disappear from checkout fridges.

The news is therefore about a specific in-store merchandising decision, not an announced change to drinks prices. Nor should it be read as an announcement that the chain is launching a new drinks range.

Rearranging stores rather than a complete refit

“Much More Rema 1000” will involve moving many products to new locations. Retailnews describes the project as a rearrangement rather than a complete overhaul of store layouts. This distinction matters when assessing its scope.

In other words, the changes affect product placement across the store, but the report does not suggest that interiors will be rebuilt from scratch. The checkout fridge is a concrete example of how the rearrangement also allows the chain to give greater priority to its own-brand products.

For customers, the reported changes mainly concern where products are located and the balance of the selection at the checkout. For the franchise sector, the significance lies in the development of a shared retail concept across a large existing store network.

Rema 1000 is making these changes at a time when, according to Retailnews, rival discounters are also rolling out new store concepts. In the report, Rema’s project stands out as a rearrangement rather than a comprehensive redesign.

Roll-out across a network set to reach 440 stores

The plan covers the chain’s entire network, which is set to reach 440 stores. This figure describes the size of the network the project is intended to cover; it should not be confused with the number of stores that have already completed the changes.

According to the October 2026 report, the process is expected to be completed in about a year. This points to autumn 2027, but it is an estimate rather than a precise, publicly announced completion date.

Rema 1000 will not disclose how much it is investing in the roll-out. The financial scale of the project therefore cannot be inferred from the number of stores involved. A chain-wide rearrangement indicates its reach, but does not in itself reveal the cost per store or the total investment.

The key figures are therefore the number of stores and the expected roll-out period. No investment figure has been published that would allow a financial comparison with other chains’ store concept changes.

Developing the concept within an existing franchise network

Rema 1000 is a franchise chain, and these changes illustrate a different form of network development from restaurant openings, new store locations or entry into new markets. Here, the focus is on changing the shared retail concept within the stores that make up the chain’s network.

That makes the project worth following for both franchisors and franchisees. The story centres on a combination of widespread changes to product placement, greater emphasis on own-brand drinks at the checkout and a roll-out intended to cover the entire chain.

Practical takeaway: When assessing a new store concept, distinguish between changes to product placement, the space and prominence given to different ranges, and an actual refit. At Rema 1000, the first two are the main features of the announced plan.