(In the 1st paragraph, 2nd sentence the abbreviation has been corrected: BVE)
BERLIN/HANNOVER (dpa-AFX) – High prices and consumer reluctance have led to a mixed year in the food industry. The industry remains one of the country’s largest industries with sales of around 232.7 billion euros, as the general manager of the Federal Association of the German Food Industry (BVE), Christoph Minhoff, said on Wednesday at the opening press conference of the Green Week in Berlin. However, political regulations increasingly put a strain on companies.
Adjusted for inflation, revenue fell by almost one percent last year compared to 2022. In nominal terms, i.e. including inflation, sales rose by 6.5 percent. “We have shown ourselves to be crisis-resistant,” said Minhoff. “But there is no recovery in sight. On the contrary, the challenges posed by crises continue to increase.”
The industry association also cited political conditions as further reasons for the stagnating development. More and more regulations led to less planning security for companies. According to an industry survey, more and more companies are planning to shift investments abroad.
Minhoff expressed solidarity with the farmers’ protests of the past few weeks. His industry processes around 80 percent of the products produced by German farmers. “That’s why functional agriculture is also fundamental for the German food industry,” emphasized Minhoff.
The concerns of farmers and the food industry are likely to remain the central topic at the International Green Week in Berlin these days. The agricultural show starts on Thursday evening in the capital, and the trade fair opens its doors to visitors on Friday. The organizers expect more than 300,000 guests./maa/DP/jha