Retail warns of a new lockdown: "Many will not cope with it" - the association sees Brussels as an obligation

In Berlin, the discussion about another hard lockdown is picking up speed.

But in the retail sector, the prospect of renewed closings causes sheer horror.

Munich - In the run-up to the next economic summit, the chief executive of the HDE trade association, Stefan Genth, is vehemently pushing for the EU upper limits for troubled companies to be relaxed.

Even today, the corona-related damage to large retail chains is "up to 250 million euros".

However, due to the EU's state aid requirements, these companies have so far been able to receive economic aid of a maximum of ten million euros.

It is therefore incomprehensible why the amount of the aid payments is still capped.

Many larger retail chains would "inevitably be driven into bankruptcy", Genth warned in an interview with Merkur.de.

The European upper limit must therefore “urgently become more flexible or be eliminated entirely,” said the HDE managing director in the run-up to the next economic summit with Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier and around 40 associations on Thursday (April 8).

Corona: Trade association calls for correction of bridging aid III

With a view to the planned expansion of Bridging Aid III, Genth also called for the payment of an entrepreneur's wages to be made possible.

Many entrepreneurs are no longer able to cover their living expenses.

They were threatened with poverty and going to the social welfare office. 

Trade association urgently warns of a hard corona lockdown

At the same time, Genth spoke out against a renewed shutdown of public life.

It was only on Monday that NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet caused a sensation with a push for a "bridge lockdown".

Genth strongly opposed the proposal.

After a year of Corona, the equity of many retailers has now been used up, said the HDE man.

New forced closings are therefore “no longer manageable” for many companies.

In the past week alone, the revenues from the closed shops were "almost 70 percent" below the pre-crisis level.

Even where limited openings were possible, the loss in sales is "often 30 to 40 percent".

Genth said it would no longer be economically viable to work with that.

In view of the struggle for existence of many companies, the trade association now also sees Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier responsible.

At the economic summit, they would once again "clearly point out the dramatic situation in many parts of the trade and make the minister aware of the sticking points," announced Genth.

The retail sector now needs "a strong economics minister" who will lend emphasis to the voice of companies in the run-up to the next Corona summit.