{
  "id": 7225876,
  "title": "Grocery shopping: What makes discount apps so popular - and what is being criticized",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/lebensmitteleinkauf-was-rabatt-apps-so-beliebt-macht-und-was",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-14T02:15:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/lebensmitteleinkauf-was-rabatt-apps-so-beliebt-macht-und-was-kritisiert-wird/100254234.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The German consumer protection association, Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv), has filed a complaint against discount supermarket Lidl and its \"Lidl Plus\" app, alleging that it discriminates against older, disabled, or younger people who may not be able to use the app. The case is being heard at the Brandenburgische Oberlandesgericht on Tuesday. The vzbv also filed complaints against Netto and Penny, but these were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Many large retailers offer apps that provide discounts and loyalty programs, but a study found that the average savings per app is only around 1%.",
  "summary": "Discount apps promise exclusive savings benefits. Consumer protectionists see exactly in this a disadvantage. A large part of the customers use the apps, but often have something to criticize about them.",
  "key_points": [
    "Rabatt-Apps beliebt durch zusätzliche Lebensmittelrabatte",
    "Kritik aufgrund potenzieller Diskriminierung gegen ältere, behinderte oder jüngere Nutzer",
    "Studie zeigt durchschnittliche Ersparnis von etwa 1% der gesamten Ausgaben"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Die Popularität von Rabatt-Apps beim Lebensmittelkauf birgt Spannungen zwischen den Vorteilen für technisch affine Kunden und der möglichen Benachteiligung von Menschen, denen der Zugang zu diesen Apps fehlt.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}