Schnitzel shock on the Baltic Sea: Minister criticizes prices, landlords counter!

Schnitzel shock on the Baltic Sea: Minister criticizes prices, landlords counter!

The high price discussion about schnitzel on the Baltic Sea is causing a lot of excitement. The Tourism Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Wolfgang Blank, has sharply criticized pricing in the catering industry. According to him, a schnitzel in any Baltic Sea town such as Binz costs an impressive 24.50 euros, while Heringsdorf costs 24.10 euros and Kühlungsborn costs 24.20 euros. Blank described these prices as excessive and feared that they could drive potential tourists to other regions. After all, you can eat delicious food in Japan for around 8 to 9 euros, according to his comparison.

There is great displeasure with Blank's words. Restaurateurs and representatives of the regional economy vehemently defend themselves against these accusations. Master chef Jürgen Mosthaf from Baden-Württemberg called the criticism outrageous and pointed out that the catering industry was suffering from difficult conditions. High VAT, social security contributions and the minimum wage make the situation of innkeepers significantly worse. In addition, the industry continues to be affected by the effects of the corona pandemic, which has reduced sales in the hospitality industry in eastern Germany by 2.7 percent, according to current statistics.

A call for dialogue

Robert Dahl, a restaurateur from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, reacted angrily to Blank's criticism and described the stigmatization of restaurants in the region as inappropriate. He complains that the government is making the economic conditions increasingly difficult. His own schnitzel with side dishes is available for a fair price of 13 euros. Dahl quickly invited the minister to a conversation about the increasing expenses in the catering industry in order to enable an honest exchange about the situation in the industry.

The reactions to Blank's statements show that other restaurateurs like the restaurant in Rostock are also willing to seek dialogue. Dahl rated this openness as “really cool”. The aim of the exchange should be to shed light on the challenges facing Baltic Sea restaurateurs and perhaps find new solutions.

Pricing factors

The catering sector is an important part of the German economy and achieved a record turnover of 115.2 billion euros in 2023. Most of the income comes from food-based gastronomy, which is very popular in Germany. There are around 63,400 restaurants and countless parks, cafés and bars, all of which contribute to the diversity of gastronomy.

Nevertheless, the challenges for the industry are enormous. In 2024, profit per restaurant averaged a historic low of 8.4 percent. Cost disputes such as raising the minimum wage and rising energy costs are leading to ongoing discussions about pricing.

The catering industry has changed significantly over the past few years. More and more consumers are attaching importance to sustainability and expect companies to be more committed to environmental and animal protection. Digital adaptation, for example through contactless payment, has now become indispensable for many catering establishments.

The debate about schnitzel prices on the Baltic Sea is more than a local issue; it reflects the reality of an entire sector continually struggling to survive. How the situation develops remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the Baltic Sea restaurateurs are ready to face the challenges.