"We bake around the clock": Gingerbread manufacturer starts earlier - for fear of gas crisis

Created: 2022-09-02 08:28

The sweet mass of spices is currently being mixed almost around the clock at the gingerbread manufacturer Schmidt.

© dpa

For fear of an energy crisis, a gingerbread manufacturer from Nuremberg started production earlier.

Customers have to be prepared for higher prices this year.

Nuremberg – The gingerbread will be on the supermarket shelf in September just in time.

For this, production starts every year in midsummer.

However, many manufacturers are concerned about high energy costs and possible gas shortages.

Lebkuchen Schmidt in Nuremberg started its three-shift operation about three weeks earlier than usual.

Since June, more than 800 employees have been producing six days a week.

Gingerbread manufacturer from Nuremberg worried: "We can't bake without gas"

"We bake around the clock to fill the warehouse and to be prepared for scenarios that we cannot foresee until now," says spokesman Andreas Hock.

"Because we can't bake without gas." As early as May, the Association of the German Confectionery Industry warned of the challenges posed by an explosion in raw material and energy prices.

Now the Christmas business falls in the middle of the energy crisis.

The city of Nuremberg has already reacted to the crisis.

To conserve energy, it closed three of its four indoor pools.

She now uses the pool water to water trees.

Video: Rising energy prices: experts give energy-saving tips

Due to rising costs: company has to raise prices

"We can only pass on part of the increased costs to the end customer, otherwise the price jump would be too great," says Andreas Hock.

The Lambertz Group, which produces Nuremberg gingerbread and Aachener Printen, still wants to see how the additional costs will affect the final prices.

This is also a matter for retailers, says Martin Heinen.

The production period has not changed at Lambertz – it runs from May to December.

The early production does not harm the gingerbread, assures Andreas Hock.

It stays fresh for over six months - and it's baked again until the end of the year. 

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