Despite staff shortages: sales growth in the butcher trade
Despite staff shortages: sales growth in the butcher trade continues. Turnover in the German butcher trade also developed positively in the spring and summer of the year. The Federal Statistical Office shows sales growth of 2,7 percent for the second quarter compared to the same period of the previous year, and the third quarter also went well for the artisanal butcher shops according to current information.
The earnings situation was burdened by the sharp rise in prices for slaughter pigs and pork, the most important raw material in the industry. The reduced market supply and China's strong need for imports due to the African swine fever rampant there caused prices in Germany to rise dramatically. The time-delayed and often only gradual adjustment of the sales prices in the craft businesses temporarily restricted their earnings situation.
The companies were able to achieve these overall satisfactory results despite a 2018 percent reduction in staff compared to 2,1. Because the biggest obstacle to the growth in the butcher trade, which has been going on for years, was again the dramatic lack of qualified employees. In individual cases, this led to the craft butchers rejecting orders for party service and catering, reducing opening hours or even closing branches.
Image: Deutscher Fleischer-Verband - Party service is an important business area for butcher shops. If there is a lack of staff, orders must be rejected.
