Status: 16.01.2024, 09:30 a.m.
By: Carina Ottillinger
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"The last two years have been tough for the industry," says Martin Bauer, owner of the organic market in Garching. The loyal customers would have helped to overcome this. © Gerald Förtsch
Organic shop owners in the district have had the same experience: despite inflation, many customers remain loyal to them - and there are concrete reasons for this.
District – This experience encouraged organic shop owner Bernd Büttner: "A customer bought from me for over 200 euros because she wanted me to survive." Since 2010 he has been running a health food store in Schäftlarn. A few years ago, there were still three of them in his place. Only Bernd Büttner's "Kapuziner Naturkost" has survived. Instead of coming to the Edeka, people come to him especially for it. As long as he has the support of the people, it will continue.
Büttner is not the only organic shop owner in the district. Despite inflation, many customers continue to shop with them. Citizens like to consume, according to a study by the market research institute Gfk. Once again, the district has the second strongest purchasing power in Germany. Many also focus on sustainable products. This is proven by the owners of the organic market. So far, organic shops have only been able to hold their own against discounters through appreciation.
The grocery store next door
Ten years ago, the citizens of Schäftlarn joked about how three organic shops could survive in one village. Hopes were high – it didn't work. "We supported each other," says Büttner. For better conditions, the three owners ordered from the same supplier. Officially, the financial situation was not the reason for the closures. The owner of "Biosfaire" emigrated to Spain. The owner of "Naturgenuss" moved back home.
Shopping and chatting: Bernd Büttner's organic shop in Schäftlarn is a popular meeting place with a unique selling point in the Isar Valley. © Andrea Kästle
How did Büttner manage to survive? "I have a clear locational advantage." His organic corner shop in Kapuzinerweg is the only owner-managed grocery store in the entire Isar Valley. Schäftlarner and neighbours quickly buy a carton of milk or eggs for breakfast from him. They know each other, chat about the upcoming holiday. Until next Thursday, Büttner does not need to order hay milk cheese for the traveler. A mountain cheese per 100 grams costs 2.99 euros. For the same price you can get a kilo of apples from Lake Constance.
550 square meters of organic food in Garching
Almost ten years ago, Martin Bauer (41) opened the "Biomarkt Garching" in Schleißheimer Straße. More than 550 items are collected on 8000 square meters. "The last two years have been tough for the industry," he says. The cost of energy, food and personnel has risen enormously. The scope for price increases is small. The clientele would have helped over time. The catchment area stretches from Freising to Schwabing. "We have great customers," says Bauer. "They decide what our product range looks like through their buying behaviour."
Bauer regularly tests new products, which customers accept after initial hesitation. Just like the fish counter. A kilo of fresh salmon costs 47.90 euros at the Garching organic market. If possible, regionality is the first choice. "Small producers should survive." The potatoes from Erding cost 2.69 euros per kilo. Bread comes from "Fritz Mühlenbäckerei" in Aying. Bauer does not throw away any goods. For all those on a budget, he makes special offers. There is a 50 percent discount on dented bananas. Older Emmentaler costs 20 percent, a bread roll from the day before 30 percent less. Once a week, the food bank picks up groceries.
"Organic is a fast-growing market," says Bauer. "I see it as positive that supermarkets are offering more organic products." If someone is interested in organic products at Lidl, the way to his store is not far away. With him, there is "the more exclusive offer".
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Bulk store in Unterschleißheim
After one and a half years, Christina Jung (35) draws a positive balance for her unpackaged shop "Luftülle" in Sportplatzstraße. The people of Unterschleißheim come with a glass and fill up spaghetti for 3.30 euros or rice for 6.10 euros a kilo. Of course, everything is regional, fair and organic. Jung is convinced: "If I buy consciously and only the necessary quantity, I have good products and can even save money."
When she opened the store in September 2022, she was aware of the difficult path. Despite all the challenges, Jung believes in the concept. She says, "We need to consume more responsibly." A lot of people know that, but they have to put it into practice.
Feasting in Unterhaching
For almost 30 years, Robert Schleißner (59) and his wife have been running the "Naturkost-Schlemmerladen" on Rathausplatz in Unterhaching. The organic shop is firmly established in the village. "We score points with personality," says Schleißner confidently. He has a story to tell about almost all of his products. On trading trips to avocado fields in Spain and olive plantations in Sicily, he looks at the products that end up in his shop.
It wasn't enough for the "Hachinger Bio G'wölb" in the neighbouring town of Oberhaching. The reasons for this were enormous increases in costs and fewer and fewer customers. After 18 years, the owners had to close. Mr. and Mrs. Schleißner, on the other hand, have nothing to complain about. "We're doing well," says Schleissner. "We make organic out of conviction." He can't and doesn't want to keep up with the supermarkets. And yet people buy oranges from Italy for 4.99 euros a kilo. At the huge cheese counter, the customer likes to choose the wildflower cheese, 100 grams for 3.50 euros. A family must be able to afford that.
But the big weekend shopping is not the goal. Schleißner doesn't reprimand anyone who only takes an orange and a yoghurt with them. "For us, it's not about quantities," he says. On the contrary, mass is difficult with organic. Often, large farmers or chains would not be able to keep up with organic standards. He remains small.