Discounters in particular are growing

As in the two previous years, food retail sales increased in 2003 according to Lebensmittelzeitung. At 1,5 percent, however, the increase is weaker than in 2002. Once again, the discounters had a significant share in the increase in sales, including fruit and vegetables. Almost the entire food retail sector has concentrated too much on the low-cost range and failed to emphasize its own range of products and services.

The turnover (food and non-food) of the top 30 retailers determined by TradeDimensions/M+M Eurodata was 2003 billion euros for 216,6, which would be an increase of five percent compared to the previous year. Essentially, however, this plus is due to a new assessment basis. For the first time, the sales of the independent merchants from Edeka, Rewe and Spar were included in the total for the respective company. Adjusted for this factor, the plus amounts to 1,5 percent.

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facts and trends

As an important food, meat is always at the center of public interest. Prices, quality, production and nutritional aspects are discussed. Although meat was rarely served in Switzerland 100 years ago because it was rare and therefore expensive, consumption has risen steadily over the past 50 years. Only after the outbreak of BSE did a slump occur. However, the measures taken restored confidence. In 2003, a total of 393 tonnes of meat were sold in Switzerland. Meat consumption in Switzerland 000

Pork remains the most consumed meat at 25,2kg per capita, followed by beef at 10,2kg, up 4% year-on-year. Poultry consumption also increased (10,1 kg), with 42,7% of this meat coming from domestic production. Although the consumption of lamb (1,47 kg) has increased, it remains at a low level. Horse and goat meat, game and rabbits consume less than 1 kg per capita per year.

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2003: Sales increase by 1,1% to EUR 310,5 million / domestic growth of 3,9% / earnings reach EUR 4,8 million / 1st quarter 2004 with a good order situation in the plus

Thanks to increased domestic business, Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Balingen, achieved a group turnover increase of 2003% to EUR 1,1 million in the 310,5 financial year, despite the persistently poor economic and industry situation. Adjusted for currency effects, the company achieved a 4,3% increase in revenue. With further growth of 5,6% to EUR 74,8 million in the first quarter of 2004, the Bizerba Group is back on the medium-term plan for expansion, explained Hans-Georg Stahmer, CEO, at the balance sheet press conference in Stuttgart.

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Matthias Harsch overall responsibility from April 1, 2004 / With the company since April 1, 2003 / Continuity in management / Predecessor Rolf Schneider leaves behind "a well-ordered house" – retired on September 30

Effective April 1, 2004, Dipl.-Kfm. Matthias Harsch (38) took over the management of sales at Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG with its headquarters in Balingen. This was announced by Hans-Georg Stahmer, CEO, at the balance sheet press conference in Stuttgart. "With the goal of the greatest possible continuity on the sales side, we prepared early on the successor for Mr. Rolf Schneider, who is scheduled to retire on September 30 of this year."

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Constitutional complaint against shop closing times on Saturdays and Sundays unsuccessful

The general ban on opening shops on Sundays and public holidays is compatible with the Basic Law. This was decided by the First Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court. The regulation on the closing time of the sales outlets on Saturday does not violate the Basic Law either. The opposite cannot be determined in this respect due to a tie in votes in the Senate. The constitutional complaint of a department store (complainant; applicant) against the legal ban on opening sales outlets on Saturdays beyond the statutory shop opening hours and on Sundays was rejected. The reasons for the decision state: 1a.

The regulation of the Shop Closing Hours Act on the shop opening hours of the sales outlets on Saturday is formally constitutional. It is the subject of competing legislation. The requirements of Art. 72 (2) GG in the version applicable since 1994 for federal legislative law are not met. However, the Shop Closing Hours Act continues to apply as federal law in accordance with Art. 125a (2) sentence 2 of the Basic Law. Responsibility for changing individual regulations then remains with the federal legislature. However, a fundamental redesign is denied to him. When modifying the Shop Closing Hours Act in 1996, the federal government limited itself to details.

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Künast starts "Initiative for a new nutrition movement in Germany"

The proportion of overweight people in Germany is constantly increasing. This affects more and more children and young people in particular. That is why the federal government is launching an "Initiative for a new nutrition movement in Germany". On June 17, 2004, this topic will also be the subject of a government declaration in the Bundestag.

The report presented by Federal Minister Renate Künast in the cabinet on June 9 deals primarily with various measures to improve nutritional education for children and young people. The background to the "Initiative for a new nutritional movement in Germany" is the worrying increase in obesity in the German population.

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With today's decision on the shop closing time, the Federal Constitutional Court has confirmed its previous case law that the Shop Closing Time Act (LschlG) corresponds to the Basic Law. According to the judgement, both the regulations on the closing of shops on Sundays and public holidays and the closing of shops on working days are constitutional.

The Federal Constitutional Court has also decided that the LSchlG can remain in place as a federal regulation, but also expressly stated that there is no need for a uniform federal regulation of shop closing times. However, the law continues to apply due to a transitional regulation in the constitution. However, the federal legislature is not allowed to redesign the LSchlG in the future. According to the judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court, the federal government is now obliged to examine whether a uniform federal regulation is still appropriate or whether it should be replaced by state law.

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The Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) approved the Shop Closing Time Act in its current form on Wednesday. It is compatible with the Basic Law and violates neither professional freedom nor the principle of equal treatment. Gudrun KOPP, consumer policy spokeswoman for the FDP parliamentary group, regrets the decision and calls on Red-Green to finally act now.

With its judgment, the BVerfG dismissed an action brought by Kaufhof AG. The department store chain had asserted that the retail trade was disadvantaged due to numerous exceptions in the Shop Closing Hours Act, for example for petrol stations and train stations. The protection of the 2,7 million employees in the German retail trade is adequately regulated in the Working Hours Act and in the collective agreements, so that there is no need for the Shop Closing Hours Act, the METRO subsidiary justified its lawsuit.

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Herrmann: CSU fights for holy Sunday

The CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bavarian state parliament, Joachim Herrmann, welcomed today's ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court on the closing of shops: "The statement by the Federal Constitutional Court that a federal regulation of the Shop Closing Hours Act is not necessary for the creation of equivalent living conditions in Germany, and a comprehensive reform of the Shop Closing Hours Act could therefore only be countries makes today a great day for federalism,” Herrmann said. The judgment would give a massive boost to efforts to achieve a clear separation of responsibilities between the federal government and the states as part of the federalism reform and to strengthen the states.
 
With their interpretation of the Basic Law, the constitutional judges would ultimately agree with a demand made by the parliamentary group leaders of the CDU and CSU: to transfer the regulation of the closing time to the competence of the federal states. In a decision of May 17, the Union parliamentary group leaders of the federal states called for more decision-making powers for the state parliaments, including for closing times.

In the event of a new regulation of the shop closing time for Bavaria, Herrmann reaffirmed: “The CSU parliamentary group will not allow any compromises in the protection of Sundays. Our motto 'Tradition and Progress' means keeping Sunday holy when the shop closes, but being as flexible as possible on workdays.”

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On June 1, the Russian veterinary authorities stopped importing all kinds of meat from EU countries. When the extent of the possible losses became clear yesterday – the EU exports meat worth 1,3 billion euros to Russia every year and accounts for a quarter of Russia's meat supply – excitement ran high on both sides. Today, however, Romano Prodi and Mikhail Fradkov already agreed on a settlement of the conflict.

As early as May 1st, the Russian authorities demanded a uniform EU certificate for deliveries of meat and meat and dairy products in place of the previous national veterinary certificates when the EU was enlarged to the east. Their reasoning: Since goods are no longer checked when crossing borders within the EU, bad meat could reach Russia under a false flag. Finally, another month was waited - and when that expired, the veterinary authorities lowered the barrier: European beef, pork and poultry were no longer allowed into the country.

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Competitive advantages often less than expected

The EU enlargement in May 2004 gives rise to both opportunities and risks. Sometimes the fears are greater than they need to be. An analysis of the pig markets in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary shows possible trends and developments. Stocks partly drastically reduced

Poland brings almost 60 percent of the pigs from all accession countries into the EU. This puts Poland in third place behind Germany and Spain within the enlarged EU. Hungary and the Czech Republic are still relevant.

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