The Schwarz Group is an international trading company with 500,000 employees and operates over 12,900 stores (in 2021) across 33 countries.

In addition to the retail business, the Schwarz Group also owns brands in the beverage, baked goods, sweets and ice cream sectors.

A conglomerate, as used colloquially, requires main companies which operate in a diverse range of sectors and are not in competition with each other.

This is not the case of the Schwarz Group's main companies, Lidl and Kaufland, which are rival food retailers.

Prezero Stiftung & Co. KG is a global environmental service provider specializing in waste management and recycling, with a strong presence across Europe and the United States through its extensive network of 430 locations.

In 2021 Prezero acquired the Suez Environment waste disposal and recycling operations in The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, and Poland.