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

Created: 2022-02-07 08:29

By: Patricia Huber

In some shops, toilet paper is already running out - but Corona is not the reason.

© Martin Wagner/Imago Images

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.

Munich – toilet paper is scarce again.

But this time it's not because of panicked Corona hamster purchases, but because of the problems in the industry.

The production of toilet paper, handkerchiefs and the like is extremely energy-intensive.

However, energy prices currently only know one direction - upwards.

In addition, corona-related staff shortages are a burden for manufacturers and the pulp required for production is also causing manufacturers

concern, according to reports from the

Because at the Finnish pulp manufacturer UPM, the workforce has been on strike since the beginning of the year, which has resulted in a price increase* and delays in delivery.

Granini, Pepsi and Tempo: Several products are already becoming scarce

These various factors mean that manufacturers are asking retailers significantly more money for their product.

But here are some across - consider the price increases to be excessive.

But this problem is not unique to the tissue industry.

Juice manufacturer Granini and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo are also engaged in bitter price wars with retailers.

In the meantime, Olgipol has ruled in the German food trade, writes the

.

The Schwarz Group with Lidl and Kaufland, the Aldi sisters, Edeka with Netto and Rewe together account for around 85 percent of the market turnover.

According to the manufacturers, they are suffering from the increased raw material and energy prices, but the traders do not want to go into price increases.

In the past, this has led to isolated empty shelves, as producers use delivery stops as a means of pressure.

Price dispute: Small producers are threatened with bankruptcy

While the heads of trade, such as Edeka boss Markus Mosa, speak of unjustified claims*, medium-sized companies in particular complain.

While large corporations can cope financially well with temporary delivery stops, the situation is different for small and medium-sized producers.

An entrepreneur from the food industry, who wished to remain anonymous, told the

: "If we cannot pass the (editor's note: increased costs) on to retailers, our existence is threatened.

This time there are no short-term fluctuations that can be buffered.” He is worried that the tough price war will “sweep some small and medium-sized companies out of the market”.

But the purchasing manager of a retailer explains: "We don't make sure that the little ones are left behind." After all, it is also in the interest of the retail trade to be able to offer a large variety of products.