EHI Retail Institute

EHI is a seal of quality program for operators of shopping platforms that offer their retailers the best conditions for consumer-friendly and successful trading on the Internet. In the meantime, more than 500 international member companies from the retail sector pass on their know-how and suggestions to the EHI Retail Institute. With more than 50 years of experience, EHI has a retail knowledge network that is internationally recognized.

The cornerstone of today`s EHI Retail Institute in Cologne was laid by the RGH - Rationalization Association of Retail, founded in 1951, and the ISB - Institute for Self-Service, founded in 1957. In 1989 both parties merged to form DHI - Deutsches Handelsinstitut and finally this merger was transformed into EHI EuroHandelsinstitut in 1993. The name change was intended to reflect the development from specialized institutes to an institute with a holistic approach and a focus on Europe.

Important stations of EHI:

1951
The RGH - rationalization community in trade was founded.

1953
The Institute for Self-Service (ISB) was founded.
A first company comparison for self-service shops in the food trade was carried out. Establishment of the first ISB working groups.

1958
Expansion of the ISB study trip in England and Italy.

1962
The ISB magazine "Self-service and supermarket" was launched.

1966
The first EuroShop fair in Düsseldorf with 331 exhibitors and 28,000 visitors.

1967
Introduction of the RGH basic study "Federal Article Numbering (ban)".

1968
Publication of the first issue of the ISB magazine "Dynamik im Handel".
Publication of the first edition of the ISB reference book "SB in numbers".

1969
The ban-L center within the RGH was founded.

1974
ban-L becomes the Centrale for Coorganization (CCG) and is now called GS1 Germany. The company owns a 50 percent share of Markenverband Deutschland.

1988
ISB was renamed Deutsches Handelsinstitut (DHI).

1989
RGH and DHI merge into one company.

1991
Publication of the first DHI Shopping Center Report.

1993
DHI was renamed to EHI EuroHandelsinstitut.

1996
OrgaInvent was created with the Centrale Marketing Agrarwirtschaft (CMA) for the traceability of cattle/beef.
European Retailers Produce Good Agricultural Practice (EUREPGAP) was established as a benchmark for good agricultural practice.

1997
Retail Technology Forum (today EuroCIS) as EuroShop`s segmentation strategy.

1998
Development of the stores&shops as a supplement to the dynamics in retail.

1999
The trust logo "Certified Online Shop" for Internet trade was introduced.

2001
The universal magazine "Dynamik im Handel" is divided into the two special titles retail technology journal and stores&shops.

2006
Development of the KUNO system (fighting crime in cashless payment transactions using non-police organizational structures) in cooperation with the Main Association of German Retailers.
The EHI EuroHandelsinstitut becomes the EHI Retail Institute.