Butcher trade demands fair relief
The companies in the butcher's trade are demanding a fair distribution of the aid for energy costs. In addition to private households and industrial companies, butchery businesses must also be relieved quickly and effectively. The approximately 11.000 owner-managed butcher shops in Germany are an important part of the regional food supply. Manufacturing the products in-house results in high energy costs in the production area, some of which are now five to six times higher. "These additional costs pose a threat to companies above all because many other costs have also skyrocketed," explains the President of the German Butchers' Association, Herbert Dohrmann. The sales prices often cannot be adjusted to the extent necessary.
In principle, the butcher trade welcomes the fact that companies and private households are to be relieved. However, the now announced reduction in VAT on the gas price has no positive effect on the companies. The butcher trade is also left out when it comes to the relief available to companies. The butcher trade was not included in the list of eligible sectors.
"It is incomprehensible why our craft businesses remain excluded, while industrial slaughterhouses, some of which are in direct competition, can receive grants of up to 50 million euros," criticizes Dohrmann. This procedure is extremely unfair, leads to enormous distortions of competition and endangers the existence of numerous craft businesses. For the announced further relief steps, the association of the butcher trade demands a fair distribution that benefits all companies, including those from the trade and medium-sized businesses. This could happen, for example, by suspending energy taxes on electricity and gas. This way creates relief steps where they are needed most. It is at least as important that this measure can be implemented quickly and without bureaucratic administrative effort.
