High costs and fewer customers: The crisis forces the Oberhachinger "Bio G'ulp" to close after 18 years.
Tears flowed among the employees.
Oberhaching
– The Bio G'ulpe on the church square in Oberhaching has existed for 18 years.
But now the shop is closing its doors forever.
The last day of sale is July 15th.
"We are very sad that we have to close, but unfortunately the sales figures have developed very poorly in the last year," reports owner Anja Hadamek.
Customers who have already heard the first rumors are appalled by the development.
"Even among the employees, there were already tears," reports Hadamek.
In 2005, she and her business partner Martina Thalmayr opened the Bio G'ulpe in the renovated and modernized historic cowshed with a lot of heart and soul.
Right from the start, the duo got involved in local life, not only with colorful summer festivals, campfires for children with adventure teachers or courtyard festivals with a band.
The name is also “made in Oberhaching”: the citizens themselves were able to help think about what the organic food store should be called.
"Actually, things were going well until a short time ago,
even if the players on the organic market have increased significantly,” she explained.
"But with the Ukraine war, business has plummeted by around 30 to 40 percent."
Customers have reacted sensitively
Overall, inflation in the organic sector was lower than in the conventional food market.
After years of constant growth, this affected the entire industry.
But the customers reacted very sensitively.
"We experienced amazing things. Right at the beginning of the war, a customer said that the prices had been increased, but that was not the case at the time." The smaller specialist dealers in particular, such as Bio G'ulp, are struggling hard , while larger chains can absorb this better.
Added to this were the increased energy costs.
Ways were sought with the landlord to prevent the closure, even reducing the rent.
"But after a year we bled dry anyway." That's the end of mid-July.
"Of course we will be there for our customers until the last day and would be very happy if they remain loyal to us." The bistro with its beautiful view over the meadows below is open and fresh lunch is served every Tuesday and Wednesday .
future of the vault
The owners are currently planning to put the beautiful vault back to a suitable use.
And the post office, which has a branch there, is interested in being able to get in touch with a potential new tenant soon.
Mayor Stefan Schelle very much regrets that Bio G'ulp is closing.
"As a community we don't have direct options, but we try to revitalize the town centres," he says.
"Ultimately, it is each individual who, with their shopping behavior, has a say in what the future of the town center will look like."