In Switzerland, too, the meat business is not easy

In the first half of 2004, the leading Swiss meat processor Bell had to report a drop in profits. The reason for this is primarily the persistently high raw material prices. Sales increased by 2,3% to CHF 744 million, the consolidated result fell by 18,5% to CHF 15,9 million.

As expected, the consumer environment in the first half of 2004 proved to be very challenging for the Bell Group. Above all, the persistently high price level had an inhibiting effect on consumption. As a result of the higher price level, sales rose by 2,3% to CHF 744 million, but the volume output by the companies was only within the range of the previous year. At CHF 2004 million, profit development in the first half of 15,9 was around 18,5% below the previous year and therefore below expectations.

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Prices fell

A sufficient supply of lambs for slaughter contrasted with only weak interest in lamb among local consumers in July. The producers of slaughter lambs therefore received a little less for their animals from week to week.

The mean for lambs billed at a flat rate reached only 3,30 euros per kilogram slaughter weight in July, which was another 33 cents less than in the previous month. The previous year's level was thus undercut by 55 cents.

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Livestock and Meat

In the second week of August, beef trading at the wholesale markets was somewhat quieter than in the previous week. The prices for sides of beef hardly changed and only the finest pan-fried items were constantly in demand. There was a tight supply of cows for slaughter, young bulls were for sale regionally a little more than in the previous week; however, there was no change in the payout prices for either female or male slaughter cattle. According to a preliminary overview, young bulls of the meat trading class R3 brought in a weekly average of 2,58 euros per kilogram slaughter weight. The quotations for slaughter cows in the trade class O3 remained at 2,07 euros per kilogram slaughter weight. When exporting to neighboring countries, roast beef from young bulls and processed goods could be marketed somewhat better. Prices mostly remained at the previous week's level, only in some cases slightly firmer demands could be pushed through. If the demand for beef does not receive any impulses in the coming week, the prices for young bulls should at best hold their ground at the same level. The prices for slaughter cows are expected to remain stable. Veal was steadily being marketed on the Hamburg wholesale market, while business was rather quiet on the Berlin wholesale market. The prices hardly changed compared to the previous week. On the veal slaughter market, supply and demand were largely balanced. After the slight price reductions of the past week, the quotations remained at the same level.- Demand for livestock calves was weaker and the prices tended downwards.

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Slaughter cattle prices above previous year's level

Significantly fewer slaughter cattle were available for sale in the EU in July. The prices developed inconsistently, but young bulls and slaughter cows brought in more than in the previous year. The range of pigs for slaughter was not too extensive, so that the suppliers usually got more money than before. The European chicken markets tended to be consistently balanced. There was little movement in the turkey sector. The egg market was characterized by weak demand and price pressure in the summer. The reduction in intervention prices for butter and skimmed milk powder did not have an immediate effect on the milk market. Slaughter cattle and slaughter pigs

The supply of slaughter cattle across the EU was noticeably smaller in July than in the previous month; in Germany slaughter fell by around two percent, in the Netherlands by almost nine percent and in Denmark by almost five percent. Compared to July 2003, significantly more animals were slaughtered, especially in Denmark and the Netherlands. The payout prices for slaughter cattle developed inconsistently from June to July.

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 In June 2004, turnover in the hospitality industry in Germany was nominally 3,6% and in real terms 4,3% lower than in June 2003. Compared to the previous year, this means the most unfavorable turnover development for the hospitality industry this year. After calendar and seasonal adjustment of the data, compared to April 2004, sales were down 2,1% in nominal terms and 2,2% in real terms.

In the first six months of 2004, companies in the hotel and catering industry turned over a nominal 1,3% and a real 2,0% less than in the same period of the previous year. This decline is solely due to the unfavorable sales development in the hospitality industry. In contrast, the accommodation industry obviously benefited (nominal +1,5%, real +0,9%) from the 2004% increase in tourist overnight stays between the beginning of the year and May 2,6.

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CMA actively shapes the growing market

"There is potential in the chilled food segment that can help all stages of the food industry to create better value," says Jörn Dwehus, Managing Director of CMA Centralen Marketing-Gesellschaft der Deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH. Showing this is the goal of a two-day congress fair on September 14th and 15th, 2004 in Cologne. The convenient preparation and maximum freshness of chilled food meet the wishes of consumers. "This improves their quality of life and that's why we assume that they also appreciate this," Dwehus is convinced.

The term chilled food covers a wide range of different products. It ranges from herbs to fresh pasta and sauces to a complete menu. What they all have in common is that they are chilled, high-quality fresh products with a limited shelf life. The degree of preparation is different. Chilled food has had a firm place in the USA, England and the Netherlands for years. In Germany, this segment has only developed since the late 1990s. With an annual increase in sales in the double-digit range, it is blossoming into an interesting market in this country - in food retailing as well as in out-of-home catering. For individual goods, the growth is even up to 150 percent annually. Experts see the main reason for the enormous growth in the fact that many consumers are no longer able or willing to spend as much time preparing food as they used to, but at the same time want perfect food that meets their needs for enjoyment. Chilled food not only combines freshness and enjoyment - suppliers offer customers real added value by providing the products with services that relieve consumers in the household.

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Competence in the butcher shop

"Hearty roulades, classic rolled roast, fine ragout fin or spicy fondue: all popular meat dishes. But which cuts of beef, pork, veal and lamb are best suited for this? The sales staff in the butcher's specialty shop should be able to answer this question, because competent advice is important in order to win and retain customers. In order to support the butcher's trade, the CMA Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der Deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH and the DFV Deutscher Fleischer-Verband eV have developed a training seminar entitled: "Quality and price in sales talks - professional arguments for your high-quality products". 27./28. September 2004 in Bad Neuenahr.

"The quality of the goods, personal advice and comprehensible information on product production are good reasons for shopping in a butcher's specialty shop," says Maria Hahn-Kranefeld, who is responsible for sales management training at the CMA. "We want to help the salespeople to use these strengths of the specialist trade profitably in discussions with the customer."

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Not the discounters, but above all the other full-range suppliers are the true competitors of the retailers

Many retailers are "addicted to advertising campaigns" The retail trade needs more customer understanding Quantitative and methodically secured price and range management is the prerequisite for success

Mercer Management Consulting has analyzed the success factors in the German retail trade and comes up with clear recommendations for the management: If retail companies want to stand up to the discount providers in Germany, they have to adapt their marketing and decision-making strategies as quickly as possible. Above all, a full-range supplier should try to become the number 1 full-range supplier in each local market. Retail management can only be professionalized if reactive action and intuitive decisions are replaced by quantitative methodological competence and well-founded professional know-how. Enormous opportunities for retail are hidden in particular in pricing and advertising, but also in the composition of the product range and in merchandising. These results are based on more than 50 interviews with top retail managers and Mercer's project experiences.

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The importance of leisure activities of socioeconomic and sociodemographic background

As part of a nationwide survey in Canada, a sub-study examined whether there was a link between overweight/obesity and physical activity and vice versa passive leisure activities (television, video games) in children aged seven to eleven. In addition, the role of socio-economic and socio-demographic factors was examined. Results: physical activity

The study shows a protective effect of physical activity against obesity in children. The likelihood of being obese and overweight is lowest for children who regularly practice so-called "unorganized" sports, ie outside of classes and clubs and/or watch television for less than 2 hours a day - regardless of their family background. These children are characterized by active leisure activities.

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In 2001, a study group in Munich examined the influence of television and computer game habits on the development of obesity among school beginners in Bavaria. Results

75% of the 6584 children included in this study use electronic media on a daily basis, ie television and video games. Children who consume these media for up to 2 hours a day have a 40% higher risk of being overweight than children who never or rarely consume electronic media. If you consume more than 2 hours a day, the risk is even 70% higher.

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COOL and SMART

Anyone who shops at the butcher Bernd Ludwig, Fuldaer Strasse 2 in Schluechtern can now transport their purchases home free of charge with a Smart with an electric cool box. Anyone who also expresses their opinion about the test drive will receive an additional amount of 25 euros from the DaimlerChrysler sales organization in Germany.

This is made possible by an innovative cooperation between the Smart Center Fulda and the Schluechtern private butcher. “With this unusual campaign we would like to use the synergy effects of the two strong partners DaimlerChrysler as a global player and Metzgerei Ludwig as a handicraft company with regional roots. More campaigns like this are planned for the future with different partner companies,” says master butcher Dirk Ludwig.

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