Hamster purchases: Are there empty shelves at discounters?

That's what experts say

Created: 03/19/2022Updated: 03/19/2022 15:49

By: Tobias Becker

Pictures of hamster purchases go around the web, but everything in the store usually looks ordinary.

What does the trade association say about possible food shortages?

War is raging in Ukraine, Western sanctions continue and solidarity is huge.

For a few days now, supermarkets and discounters like Aldi*, Lidl, Edeka and others have also decided to take Russian products off the shelves.

Some other products could now become scarce*, pictures of hamster purchases are circulating online – but is it really time?

At Aldi, REWE and Co.: trade association clearly - "Hamster purchases are not necessary."

"Hamster purchases like at the beginning of the corona pandemic are not known to us to this extent," says Sabine Hagmann, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Retail Association (HBW) to HEIDELBERG24*.

Even if it is said that rapeseed or sunflower oil is scarce and pasta and flour could be hoarded, the trade association is not concerned.

Hagmann in the direction of the consumer: "Buying hamsters is absolutely not necessary." The supply in Baden-Württemberg is secured, there are no supply bottlenecks, only distribution bottlenecks - a difference, because: "If individual products are not available on the day of purchase, it can you can assume that you will get them again the next time you go shopping.”

Aldi, Lidl and Co.: Delivery problems possible - that's the reason

However, Hagmann also says that there may be "temporary" delivery problems with individual products.

"Forwarding companies lack truck drivers from Russia and the Ukraine, so that deliveries often arrive late in the supermarkets," explains the HBW boss when asked by HEIDELBERG24.

also read

Edeka, Rewe, Aldi: retailers and manufacturers are fighting bitterly for prices - now empty shelves are threatening again

There are more and more gaps on supermarket shelves.

The reason for this is the tough price negotiations between dealers and producers.

Now it's time to get down to business.

Edeka, Rewe, Aldi: retailers and manufacturers are fighting bitterly for prices - now empty shelves are threatening again

Agriculture Minister Hauk calls for a ban on hamster purchases

According to Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk (CDU), the food supply in Baden-Württemberg is secured.

Hauk said on Thursday in Stuttgart: "The image of partly empty shelves increases this uncertainty and drives up hamster purchases." However, these are by no means necessary.

"Gaps in supermarkets are currently due to the tense situation in the logistics and transport sector."

Agriculture Minister Hauk calls for a ban on hamster purchases

However, that should be the least of the problems for customers of Aldi, Lidl and other discounters and supermarkets, after all, the same product is often also available from other brands.

Hamster purchases and empty shelves, as they sometimes did at the beginning of the corona crisis in 2020, should therefore not occur.

Bottlenecks at Aldi, Lidl and Co.: cooking oil instead of petrol?

ADAC warns

Curiously, vegetable oils are also said to be used as a fuel substitute.

Some people use the cheaper cooking oil to counteract the horrendous gas prices.

But: The thing has a big catch, because it could become a lot more expensive as a result.

The General German Automobile Club (ADAC) warns against this practice and writes on its website: “The biggest problem is the significant difference in viscosity compared to conventional diesel.

Vegetable oils lead to starting difficulties and have a negative effect on engine performance and service life.”

food shortage?

Aldi provides, trade association gives the all-clear

In general, in Baden-Württemberg* and Germany, basic services are hardly at risk.

"Basic food shortages are not to be feared," explains Sabine Hagmann.

In addition, the discounter giant Aldi Süd, for example, has already taken precautions.

A maximum of four bottles of own-brand rapeseed oil* are sold per customer.

An additional means from Aldi Süd to prevent bottlenecks in a product that is already known from the corona crisis.