Farmers protest against trading group: "Aldi & Co. enrich themselves at the farmers' expense"

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Farmers protest in front of the Aldi central warehouse in Hesel, Lower Saxony: "The farmers put money on it every day, regardless of whether they fatten pigs or produce milk"

Photo: Hauke-Christian Dittrich / dpa

SPIEGEL

: On Tuesday morning, it was said that Aldi could adjust to a longer blockade of its warehouses because of the drastic reduction in butter prices operated by the discounter by up to 60 cents per kilo.

Many farmers had prepared themselves for days of protest, then they left that evening.

Why?

Lee:

 Because we have first achieved our main goal, more appreciation for our products.

The Environment Minister of Lower Saxony came to us yesterday and has announced a round of talks with federal politics and trade for mid-January.

The big four grocers Edeka, Rewe, Lidl and Aldi, whose market share is over 85 percent, will have to accept a code of conduct that deserves the name.

In addition, the junk prices for butter planned by Aldi are at least partly off the table.

SPIEGEL

: Aldi justified the targeted price reduction in the butter contracts with the dairies, which often only run for a few months, with the usual drop in demand after Christmas.

Has Aldi assured you that it will take the farmers into consideration in the contracts concluded these days?

Lee

: Of course they don't communicate that publicly.

But we have heard of dairies that were now able to conclude contracts with the usual price reductions of 10 to 20 cents per kilo of butter at the time - and did not have to sell their products.

SPIEGEL

: The example of the East Frisian Rücker dairy is circulating in farmers' chats.

She only has one of four contracts with Aldi camps.

Apparently she wasn't ready to go along with the drastic price reductions: According to our research, the kilo of butter should be delivered for less than 3.30 euros.

That would be the 60 cents you criticized less than before.

Are you really sure that your protest was a success?

Lee:

 I'm not at all sure and remain extremely skeptical about Aldi & Co. - they get rich at the farmers' expense.

Sales of dairy products have increased significantly compared to 2019, the milk price on the world market went up, but farmers did not get any of it.

They now put money on it every day, regardless of whether they fatten pigs or produce milk.

I also heard about the Rücker dairy.

There are now processors who are trying to straighten themselves out - and those who are embarking on this shoddy downward price spiral at the expense of the farmers.

In January we will know who it was. 

SPIEGEL

: Anger and resignation are spreading in the farmers' forums.

They let themselves be lulled by the trade with half-baked promises and talk of a fair partnership.

There it is again, the carrot that is offered to the farmers. 

Lee

: I can't even deny that.

The only question is: how much can we achieve with one action?

After all, with Olaf Lies, we now had a minister here at the blockade for the first time.

On the other hand, I haven't heard much from Mrs. Klöckner.

SPIEGEL

: On Facebook, the Minister of Agriculture pointed out the power imbalance between producers and retailers and the sometimes dramatic situation on the farms.

Just over two weeks ago there was a round of talks with politicians and retailers, in which the LsV movement was significantly involved.

The well-known frequent blogger "Bauer Willi" celebrated the talks as a "great success". 

Lee

: Horror, that misjudgment.

Farmer Willi got it completely wrong here.

Success?

Less than three weeks later we get the butter price slap.

The retail trade has lost its credibility.  

SPIEGEL

: How about your credibility?

Your LsV representative Dirk Andresen asked very servilely in the run-up to the talks to refrain from actions.

Lee

: Andresen asked me yesterday what the action was about.

I talked to him on the phone, but that's part of our work.

At least we agree on the goal.

Andresen seems to me a bit sated by now.

He's on committees that are very important, but he's lost the smell of the stable.

Don't get me wrong: I still think the LsV is great as an agile protest movement.

She holds up the mirror of narrow-mindedness to the farmers' association, of which I am also a member of the rural population.

That was sorely needed.

But the LsV must be careful not to lose its base. 

SPIEGEL

: What is it that makes you so confident that fairness of all things can now move into retail?

LEE:

 Nothing but the distress of the farmers.

Many have nothing more to lose and they will set off again if they are fooled again. 

SPIEGEL

: How can the basic problem of the oversupply of milk be solved by bundling milk by farmers?

Through stronger producer groups?

Lee

: Both seem important to me.

In Bavaria, for example, there is a large producer group that negotiates cleverly with dairies and achieves better prices than here in the north.

The dairies, many of which are cooperatives, often no longer act in the interests of their comrades.

They pretend to be powerful corporations - and often only accompany the price drop without any power.

Their managers should actually not accept prices that are not cost-covering for the members.

SPIEGEL

: In the shadow of Aldi, other grocery chains are now said to be on the market with even lower price demands for butter.

Lee

: Yes, and that's why our colleagues moved on with their tractors last night to the Edeka and Lidl camps.

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