Empty shelves at Rewe: supermarket refuses price increase
Created: 01/04/2023 11:33 am
By: Karolin Stevelmans
The arguments about higher prices in the supermarket never end.
Rewe is quick-witted and fights for low food prices.
Dortmund – The year 2023 is starting less positively for consumers.
Because gaps in the supermarket shelves and sharp price increases are still to be expected.
Manufacturers of certain branded goods in particular are demanding higher prices from grocers.
Rewe does not want to go down this path and makes a momentous decision.
Rewe does not go along with price increases: a dispute with Pepsi could throw a drink off the shelves
As the Rewe boss Lionel Souque suggests, the disputes over food prices are not over yet.
According to its own statement, Rewe already had price demands of around one billion euros at the beginning of the year, as reported by the
Lebensmittelzeitung
.
Large brand manufacturers in particular, such as Mars, Nestlé and Pepsi, are demanding more money from supermarkets and discounters for their products.
In the future, customers at Rewe will no longer be able to find "Rockstar" energy drinks, because the brand manufacturer Pepsi gave the retailer a sharp price increase at the beginning of the year, as RUHR24 reports.
In an interview with the Tagesspiegel
, Rewe boss Souque
consistently countered: "And let's be honest: Who needs "Rockstar"?
There are enough other energy drinks out there."
The reaction proves that Rewe will continue to accept no unjustified prices and will continue the stubborn course towards the manufacturers.
Customers could therefore increasingly find themselves in front of empty shelves when shopping.
This applies in particular to products from international food companies, which is why the private labels of Edeka, Lidl and Co. gained popularity in Germany.
Rewe stands firm when it comes to price demands from Nestlé: "Now we're not ordering anymore"
In addition to Pepsi, Rewe is also again arguing with the food company Nestlé about food prices.
In the course of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, important raw materials for vegetable oil became scarce and expensive.
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Rewe fights against price increases by food companies - with consequences for customers.
© Kay-Helge Hercher
Although prices have now normalized again, food retailers are again faced with conflicts.
Because the world's largest food manufacturer does not want to lower prices again, according to Souque.
Even if the raw material prices for oil are at the usual level today, Nestlé still charges the higher prices for products of the "Thomy" brand.
Not justified for Rewe.
The supermarket therefore makes short work of it: "Now we no longer order Thomy," says the Rewe boss.
This affects products such as mustard, mayonnaise and other sauces.
Rewe fights against price increases: the supermarket “does not want to be blackmailed”
Despite the price disputes, consumers need not fear any food shortages.
Because Rewe obtains its goods from around 10,000 different suppliers, for example.
The supermarket is currently only having discussions with a small number.
Going against the price demands of the food companies is still not an easy decision for Rewe. "Yes, it hurts us, we want to come to an agreement," Souque admits in an interview with the
Tagesspiegel
.
"But we have to show them that we won't allow ourselves to be blackmailed," he adds.
But the persistent approach was already showing success in 2022.
Rewe was able to prevent about half of the price increases.
It remains to be seen whether this will also be the case this year.
