Gross margin slipped into the red

Fattening pigs has not been a lucrative business in Germany for some time. On the contrary, in the past two years, many fatteners were bottom line in the red. They hoped for a significant improvement in their economic results in 2004, but so far there has been a bitter disappointment, although the proceeds have improved as a result of the various administrative measures taken by the European Commission.

In the first quarter of this year, according to model calculations for the gross margin - revenue for slaughter pigs minus costs for piglets and feed if recorded at the same time - profitability in pig fattening was negative. While in the very good "pig year" 2001 a gross margin of more than 30 euros per pig was achieved in the first quarter of the year, the following year it was around 6,60 euros and in the first quarter of 2003 it was still 3,10 euros per animal. In the first three months of this year, the gross margin shrank to just 1,20 euros per pig, although the comparable pig price increased on average compared to the previous year. Consequently, according to the model calculation, the price achieved could only cover little more than the cost of feed and piglets; for everything else such as expenditure on water and energy, machinery and buildings, wages and salaries, capital and other things, there was not much left on average.

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Under the motto "Quality from the f", the Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der Deutschen Landwirtschaftswirtschaft (CMA) and the German Butchers' Association (DFV) carried out a cooperative sales promotion campaign for meat and sausages. Within the nationwide campaign, which focused on the technical areas of competence of butcher shops - quality, variety and service - and also provided delicious recipe ideas and preparation recommendations, a large competition also beckoned.

For Erika Groschek, the visit to the butcher's shop was a win in every respect:

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at IFFA in Hall 6, Stand D 23

Yes, it does exist, the ultimate pork delicacy that will make even those who scorn sausage products weak.
 
We are talking about a pig - the Iberian pig - whose popular name pata negra comes from its dark color and pigmented claws.

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Shop prices similarly low as in the previous season

There is no shortage of pork across Europe, and grill fans can expect a similarly extensive and inexpensive range of grilled items at the meat and poultry counters of German retailers as in the previous season. Beef and veal will also cost no more than last year, and lamb is much cheaper to get.

German consumers not only prefer to eat pork during the year, it is also the number one type of meat in this country during the barbecue season. Since there is hardly any less abundant production in the current year than in 2003, not only in Germany, but also in the other EU countries, retail prices for pork in Germany have remained stable over the course of the year at a consumer-friendly level similar to the previous year.

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House prices cause displeasure

 For some time now, some large slaughterhouses have been deviating from the basic listing "North-West" of the Association of Producer Associations in East and West Germany for slaughter pigs and paying a house price. This price is usually one to two cents per kilogram of slaughter weight below the base price. The companies advertise that this pricing policy serves “partnership-based cooperation in the interests of all those involved”.

Business in meat sales is obviously worse than in previous years with regard to the slaughterhouse sales prices. Because for the second year in a row, more pigs are slaughtered than before. This means that the product can often only be sold “above the price”. The large, concentrated retail chains take advantage of this situation and lower their purchase prices. Favorable special offers should serve as a customer magnet.

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Every tenth egg in Switzerland is an organic egg

For the first time in many years, Swiss organic farmers had to contend with an oversupply of organic eggs last summer. Every tenth Swiss egg is now an organic egg.

49 million organic eggs were produced under the Bud label in 2003. Sales fell for the first time last year, and some manufacturers had greatly expanded their production volume, reports bio aktuell. For this reason, BioSuisse is now mediating between the organic egg traders and the Poultry Commission in order to decide on volume control measures.

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CMA continues consumer campaign

“Meat: Yes, of course!” - the CMA Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH will continue the information campaign for beef with the participation of the European Community from the 17th calendar week.

From April to November, advertisements on the last cover page in high-circulation consumer magazines such as TV Spielfilm, Für Sie or Bunte attract the attention of consumers to the topic of beef. The motifs of the image advertisements appeal to consumers emotionally. A folder also provides information on European legal provisions as well as national laws and regulations for all stages of meat production, quality and safety criteria, the nutritional value of meat and aspects of enjoyment and taste. In addition, accompanying PR measures - a telephone info line and information measures on the Internet - provide information on topics such as keeping and feeding, slaughtering, processing, labeling and QA as well as nutritional and product-related content.

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The controversial anti-meat campaign "The Holocaust on Your Plate" by the animal welfare organization PETA remains banned. With this verdict, the district court of Berlin on April 22, 04 confirmed an injunction that the Central Council of Jews in Germany had obtained against the animal rights activists in March. Judge Michael Mauck sees the human dignity of the Holocaust victims violated by photo montages of concentration camp prisoners and hens in battery cages, which he says goes too far.

Peta launched a similar anti-meat campaign in the United States last fall. The photo montages objected to by the Central Council were also shown in Switzerland and Austria. Cattle transports and deportation trains, pig carcasses and human corpses as well as concentration camp prisoners and chickens in laying batteries are juxtaposed under titles such as "Walking Skeletons", "Children's Butchers" and "The Journey to Hell". In Germany, the start of the campaign was planned for mid-March in Stuttgart. The Central Council then appealed to the Berlin district court.

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On April 64, 30, Hans Reischl (2004), who has been CEO of Rewe for many years, will be stepping down from his positions at the Rewe retail group. According to the official statement, the separation from the company will take place "in friendship and gratitude" a few months before the agreed transition to "deserved" retirement. The Rewe supervisory board thus opens up the possibility for Reischl to take on future tasks and commitments outside the group without conflict. As of May 1, 2004, the position of Spokesman for the Rewe Board of Management will be filled by board member Dr. Ernst Dieter Berninghaus (39), who was appointed by the Rewe Supervisory Board on February 17, 2004 as Reischl's successor.

The Rewe Supervisory Board recognizes Hans Reischl's entrepreneurial achievements as a life's work that provides a solid and secure basis for the successful further development of the Rewe Group as a leading retail and tourism company in Europe. The development of the Rewe headquarters, founded in 1927, from a "shopping club" of food wholesale cooperatives to an international group is inextricably linked to his name.

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The hotel and catering industry expect sales growth of 2004 percent in 1,5

After the worst economic year in the history of the hospitality industry in Germany with a loss in turnover of 5,1 percent in 2003, the 250.000 German hoteliers and restaurateurs are starting this year's summer season with cautious optimism. At the annual press conference of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA Bundesverband) on Wednesday in Berlin, President Ernst Fischer predicted a slight increase in sales of 1,5 percent for the current financial year with stable prices. However, Fischer makes a positive development of the domestic tourism industry dependent on a clear brightening of the general economic situation, which continues to have a major impact on the business results of the hotel and catering trade.

However, the basis for an end to the permanent stagnation of the German economy requires more courageous steps on the part of politicians, which go far beyond the previous efforts, said Fischer. “Instead of discussing further regulations and further unsettling consumers and entrepreneurs, really effective measures must be taken as quickly as possible to make labor law more flexible and to reduce bureaucracy. Only when citizens and entrepreneurs are finally relieved of taxes and duties will the willingness to invest and consumer sentiment increase. "

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Results of the GfK consumer climate study in April 2004

After the slump in March, German consumer sentiment improved slightly in April. The constant ups and downs in consumption indicators, which have been going on for months and are a clear indication of the uncertainty among Germans, continued in April. While the economic and income expectations indicators compensated for their losses from the previous month, the propensity to buy declined slightly again.

Consumers are in a much better mood in April than in the previous month. This applies at least to their expectations of the economic upswing and the development of their personal income. However, their willingness to make larger purchases in the near future remains reluctant. While the economic and income estimates are now leveling off close to the long-term average value of 0, the propensity to buy indicator remains in negative territory and is therefore the number 1 problem child of economic development in Germany.

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