Overview
- The regional Brandenburg Higher Regional Court heard the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband’s lawsuit against Lidl over the Lidl Plus app on Tuesday in case Az. 6 UKl 2/25 as consumer groups press the discrimination claim.
- Vzbv says app‑exclusive offers disadvantage people who cannot or do not use smartphones, singling out older people, some disabled shoppers and children as groups that may be excluded from those discounts.
- Earlier suits against Netto and Penny were dismissed at lower levels for lack of evidence, but those rulings are not final because revisions were allowed and the Bundesgerichtshof is likely to set a binding national standard later.
- Surveys show wide use but small gains: YouGov finds about three in four adults use retailer discount apps while Smhaggle estimates average savings at roughly one percent of spending and many users report privacy worries or see the offers as unfair.
- Retailers use apps to gather customer data and target offers so some chains push app discounts while Aldi advertises a single price for all, meaning a court decision could force changes to how chains price goods or provide alternatives for non‑users.