Federal consumer minister Renate Künast has issued a rush ordinance as a further precautionary measure to protect against avian influenza. "To be on the safe side, everything has to be organized in such a way that, in the event of an emergency, all the necessary data is available so that we can take protective measures immediately." Since poultry generally do not have to be notified, they are issued with the express ordinance. The urgent regulation stipulates: An obligation to report duck, geese, pheasant, partridge, quail or pigeon holdings (for chicken holdings there is already a duty to notify according to the livestock traffic regulation), provided that increased losses in a poultry stock within 24 hours ( in holdings with up to 100 pieces of poultry, at least three animals, in holdings with more than 100 pieces of poultry, more than 2%) or reduction in performance, the animal keeper is obliged to do so within the scope of his notification pursuant to Section 9 Animal Disease Act (suspected disease) to the competent authority and to have an examination for influenza A virus of the subtypes H 5 and H 7 carried out after further instructions, poultry farmers must keep a register in which they enter and exit poultry with the name and address of the transport operator, the previous owner and of the purchaser must be entered. In addition, the visit of external persons is to be entered.

The regulation will enter into force on Sunday 8 February.

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The Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor launched the new start-up portal www.existencegruender.de and the Mittelstandshotline (5 0 18) 05 6 -15 (001 ct./min.) On February 12 in Berlin. This bundles existing offers and founders have central access to information, advice and services related to start-up and medium-sized businesses.

The Internet portal, which is part of the "pro Mittelstand" SME initiative launched by Federal Minister of Economics and Labor Wolfgang Clement in 2003, has the following offers:

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Background information on poultry flu in Southeast Asia

 It is unlikely that the poultry flu that is currently rampant in Southeast Asia will be brought to Europe or even Germany. However, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Neumann from the Clinic for Poultry at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover the possibility of further expansion in Southeast Asia. According to a statement by a WHO expert, '' Microorganisms do not need passports '', the transport of live poultry or poultry products across the '' green border '', i.e. past controls and trade barriers, could encourage such a further spread. An outbreak of the epidemic in Germany is only to be feared if infected poultry or poultry products were imported before the import ban was imposed on January 23 and if they came into contact with local poultry stocks - or after this date infectious poultry products, eggs or even live birds were illegally imported would have been.

In contrast to the outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003, Prof. Neumann has so far had no detailed information on the origin of the current epidemic. In the Netherlands, in the course of the extensive work of the virologist Prof. Osterhaus from the Erasmus MC University Rotterdam, the avian influenza virus H7N7 was identified as a recombinant from wild ducks with a high probability as the origin of the epidemic. To what extent the origin of the bird flu now caused by the H5N1 pathogen in Southeast Asia can also be found in wild birds can be determined at the earliest in an extensive scientific follow-up.

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The federal government is improving the framework conditions for founding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany. The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Edelgard Bulmahn, and the Federal Minister of Economics and Labor, Wolfgang Clement, presented the "Innovations and future technologies in medium-sized companies - High-Tech Masterplan" initiative as part of the federal government's innovation offensive in the cabinet today. Key points are improved access to venture capital and new models of cooperation between public research and SMEs.

"The High-Tech Master Plan is another measure of the federal government's innovation offensive. With it we are strengthening the technological performance of medium-sized companies. It is the backbone of Germany's competitiveness as a business location," explained Clement and Bulmahn. More than 200.000 medium-sized companies from industry and services are among the innovative companies in Germany. Around 35.000 of them are continuously engaged in research and development.

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Bankruptcies will increase - obesity as a major challenge

Concentration in food retailing is progressing, and discounters will expand their market share in Germany from 36 percent to 45 percent over the next five years. The number of insolvencies in the industry will increase from almost 7.500 in 2002 to over 10.000 in 2005. Consumer appreciation for top branded products continues to decline. Obesity is one of the future challenges, not only for industry but also for trade created by the EuroHandelsinstitut. Hypermarkets are growing - small specialty shops in city centers are on the verge of "off"

Concentration in food retailing has intensified: while the top 10 in the industry accounted for 1990 percent of total sales in 45, by the end of 2002 it was already 84 percent. The development of business types is clearly at the expense of small-scale specialist shops (< 400 square meters), the number of which has almost halved since 1980 (- 42 percent). Hypermarkets (+ 242 percent) and discounters (+ 50 percent) have increased significantly in the same period. Owner-managed retail stores such as small supermarkets or kiosks will die out in inner-city locations by 2010 and will only be able to exist as local suppliers in rural areas. KPMG estimates that the number of insolvencies will rise from almost 7.500 in 2002 to around 10.200 in 2005.

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Company catering in Germany is in a state of upheaval. In view of cost discussions, performance is increasingly being put to the test. However, there is hardly any well-founded basic data on the current situation of canteens in Germany. The CMA Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der Deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH, together with the ZMP Central Market and Price Report Office GmbH, had an extensive primary survey carried out.

The present results of the study "Structures and cost of goods in company catering" provide for the first time a representative picture of the market for company catering. This data is an important tool for anyone who deals professionally with community catering. In addition to the structures of this important segment, the study also provides information about product groups and their use, eco-products, sources of purchase, guest campaigns. It also compares company catering and social catering. It thus draws a comprehensive picture of the structure of company catering:

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Maggi Cooking Studio Treff opened in Hamburg

In the heart of Hamburg, on Jungfernstieg, a new Maggi cooking studio Treff has opened. Now you can experience the Maggi cooking studio known from television "live". After Frankfurt and Leipzig, it should also be a success in Hamburg. Cooking courses are offered every day at the Maggi Kochstudio Treff. In addition, all Maggi products can be bought. The snack bars have a wide range of soups and snacks and the recipes are free. In addition, there is a lounge that companies can use for meetings and conferences.

The entrance to the new Maggi Kochstudio Treff

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"I was totally surprised and at the same time fascinated by the sausage letter in my mailbox" or "I was really happy about this small, original gift". This is how recipients of a sausage letter put their enthusiasm into words.

The simplest and most accurate explanation for this idea: A sausage letter is an original, eye-catching gift that anyone can order online at www.Wurstbrief.de. Creatively packaged sausage is then reliably sent to the desired address together with a personal greeting.

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Effective March 1, 2004, Tulip Food Company will take over the activities of Oldenburger Fleischwarenfabrik in Germany. The takeover is part of the strategy to strengthen Tulip's competitive strengths in the German market.

The Oldenburger Fleischwarenfabrik in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, has a logistically favorable location near Tulip's factory in Schüttorf. The takeover, effective March 1, 2004, is still subject to the approval of the Federal Cartel Office.

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In 2003, the Wiesbauer Group achieved a total increase in sales of around 5%. As in previous years, there was strong growth in the export of typical Austrian product specialties to Germany. With the opening of the new German central sales office, Wiesbauer now has its own sales hub in Germany, the basis for continued good development here. With the eastward expansion of the EU, the Hungarian and Czech markets are to be worked more intensively. Annual review 2003: important decisions for the future

The takeover of the Teufner company, the successful first presentation of the original Hungarian specialty range "Prímás" at the Anuga in Cologne, the choice of the "Meister Schinken" as the Austrian Product Champion 2003 in the counter area and strong growth in exports to Germany for Wiesbauer Managing Director Komm. Rat Karl Schmiedbauer the highlights of the past financial year.

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Restructuring took effect in the fourth quarter

FRoSTA AG achieved sales of €2003 million in 262,5 (previous year = €284 million). The pre-tax result – before auditing by the auditors – amounts to € -7,9 million. Thanks to profits in the fourth quarter, the operating loss accumulated by the end of September 4 was reduced from €2003 million to €6,6 million. This loss is increased by the amount of €5,5 million due to restructuring expenses for the social plan and severance payments. 

Thanks to reduced liabilities, the equity ratio was kept at well over 20% despite the loss that occurred. The Management Board will not propose a dividend payment for the 2003 financial year.

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