Timber construction for retail stores and supermarkets

An increasing number of retail companies are relying on wood as a central building material for new store constructions – opting for a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. German examples include Aldi Nord in East Frisia, Netto Marken-Discount in Saxony, and dm in Baden.

Building with wood, especially using modular systems, offers several advantages: prefabricated wooden elements shorten construction times, and the CO₂ balance is significantly better than in traditional concrete or steel structures. Retailers also appreciate the positive effects of wood on indoor climate – it regulates humidity, improves air quality and acoustics, stores heat, and creates a pleasant atmosphere. Moreover, wood construction enables highly effective thermal insulation with slim wall designs and reduced material use. Finally, modular timber systems that avoid additional materials such as adhesives allow for complete disassembly and reuse of components – a consistent implementation of circular economy principles in construction.

With its REWE Green Building concept, the retail group is advancing sustainable supermarket construction. According to the company, more than 400 stores under the REWE, PENNY, and toom brands have already been built following these ecological standards. A key principle is modular timber construction, first implemented at the REWE Green Farming market in Wiesbaden and set to be used again for the REWE Green Farming market in Berlin by 2026.

The domestic coniferous wood used for the Wiesbaden store binds about 700 tons of CO₂. Within 30 years, an equivalent amount of wood will have regrown, balancing out the carbon footprint. The modular construction approach relies on a flexible system: prefabricated components and standardized connectors can be easily and flexibly adapted for new markets of any size and shape – enabling an assembly time of just eight weeks.

The building materials are fully demountable and reusable. “Seen in this light, the market in Berlin might not be an old building in 40 years, but a construction materials depot. We’re building truly circular supermarkets,” says Klaus Wiens, Head of Store Construction at REWE. He emphasizes that timber construction is not only ecologically sound but also practical and economical: based on the Wiesbaden experience, the company is now creating simpler structures with fewer connectors, reducing design time. “With the Berlin market, we’re also building entirely in wood for the first time – unlike Wiesbaden, where service areas were made of concrete.”

The new Edeka Popko market in Braunschweig takes sustainable building to the next level. For the first time, a supermarket has been constructed entirely using the TRIQBRIQ timber system – a construction principle that prioritizes reuse over new production. Instead of fresh lumber, it uses micro-modular wooden blocks made from industrial, damaged, and reclaimed wood. Thus, the material is not newly harvested but comes from existing sources that would otherwise often be incinerated for energy. This approach saves resources and significantly reduces the project’s carbon footprint.

Additionally, the so-called BRIQs are stacked without adhesives or metal connections and fixed with beechwood dowels. This creates a fully demountable and reusable structure – a decisive step toward true circular architecture. Both roof and façade are made entirely of wood, while a new structural concept greatly reduces the amount of concrete needed for the foundations.

Another advantage for retail real estate is the high design and usage flexibility: the TRIQBRIQ system allows later modifications to layouts and conversions much more easily than conventional timber constructions.

As commercial timber construction is still a relatively young sector, it is currently in a phase of dynamic development. Many advantages such as speed, climate-friendliness, and flexibility have already been proven, but experience, standards, and market acceptance are still evolving. The following overview summarizes the key strengths and challenges of this construction method for retail properties.

Examples from the food retail sector show that timber construction is no longer an ecological experiment for a few particularly eco-conscious niche players. Wood as a building material has the potential to become a new standard in commercial real estate. This is not only about sustainability messaging but also about tangible construction benefits: wood is lightweight, versatile, components can be prefabricated, and it is ideal for buildings with lower structural loads or those that may need later adaptation to changing layouts.

Such construction concepts are becoming increasingly relevant in retail – driven by high energy costs, strict sustainability targets, and the growing demand for properties that can be quickly, flexibly, and sustainably adapted to new requirements. The sector still faces challenges – in cost, technical expertise, and acceptance – but the trend is clear: resource efficiency and material cycles are becoming ever more important in construction. If upcycling solutions like the TRIQBRIQ system become market-ready, wood could experience a true and lasting renaissance in commercial real estate.

Sources: Commercial Real Estate Loans blog article, Kahrs Holz & Bau info page, Construction Today news, Everything Property article