Biomarkt crisis: Natural food shops close rows in SH!

Biomarkt crisis: Natural food shops close rows in SH!

Lübeck, Deutschland - The landscape of the natural food shops in Schleswig-Holstein is changing rapidly. In particular, around 15 percent of the owner -managed bioma markets had had to close their doors since 2022, a trend that has even reached 20 percent nationwide. The reasons for these unpleasant developments are varied. One of the main factors is the uncertain successor of the shops and the increasing personnel costs, which particularly strain smaller and owner -managed companies. This reports ndr .

The competition does not sleep either: supermarket chains and discounters have added massive organic products to the range in recent years. As a result, many consumers prefer to use the common providers when shopping, especially in times of inflation when saving comes first. According to the NDR, many are looking for corders: Inside when buying organic food, according to a good price-performance ratio. An example of this is the Hofladen Klostersee, which has specifically found that consumers are increasingly paying attention to the price when shopping.

In recent years, the dynamics of the market have also changed. The attentive observers in the industry see that organic products such as fresh fruit and vegetables are less in demand, while long -lasting products such as pasta and ready meals record remarkable growth. The [] approximately 5 percent increase in sales of the German Bio-Markt in 2023 also shows that many consumers still appreciate valuable products [Süddeutsche] (https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/bio- Lebensmarkt-prozent-li.3174655).

challenges and opportunities for natural food stores

Despite the challenges, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Organic shops are supposed to market more through social media and through storytelling in order to address younger target groups. The Demeter baker Dirk Öllerich, the stable sale of organic bread, also sees new ways to market in order not to be under the competition.

For the Landwege cooperative in Lübeck, which recently had to close a branch, adaptation to the market is an urgent need. The members emphasize the importance of facing the changes in the organic market and finding innovative ways to achieve customers. Martina Andres from Landwege notes that the number of employees in natural food stores is often higher than the number of customers, which further increases the financial burden.

Smaller towns are significantly more affected by the closings. In these regions, there is often no interest in investing in organic shops when discounters and large chains have so many offers. Consumers are willing to spend more for high -quality food, but only if the circumstances are right. A major problem is the lack of staff, which also endangers the quality of advice in natural food stores because many companies have difficulty finding qualified staff.

look into the future

The prospects for a recovery of the market also seem to be in prospect with the latest sales increases. Despite the high inflation that pushed the market into the minus for the first time in 2022, the first nine months of 2024 show total sales with growth of over five percent. Does this mean that interest in organic food returns to the good old form? This question remains exciting and requires constant observation of the market to recognize trends early on and react accordingly.

A positive development shows, for example, at the organic store Schwammerl in Erbendorf, which was only opened in March 2023. Michael Wildenauer, the owner, brings a breath of fresh air to the industry with a clear focus on regionality and offers a selection from Bavaria or Germany. He already supplies four kindergartens and is active in the community, which earned him a sales increase of 20 percent in the current year. Despite the success, the recovery of personnel remains a challenge because he also has difficulty recruiting mini -jobbers with specialist knowledge. But his commitment and the support of volunteers show that you can be successful with a good hand and regional reference in stormy times.