The meat processing companies also did not perform as positively as before, as shown by the annual top ten of the German food newspaper.
In addition to the lingering problems with COVID-19 and export restrictions due to African swine fever, there are currently also the cost effects of the war in Ukraine. The historically high prices for beef only compensated a few meat companies.
The list of the 100 largest German companies in the meat industry shows that market leader Tönnies had to absorb a significant drop in sales and volume. Westfleisch fared better through the crisis than Vion (4th) and rose to 3rd place among the industry companies with the highest turnover.
While meat consumption is declining again, the German poultry sector is growing. Poultry slaughterer Rothkötter (5th) even reports a 20 percent increase in turnover. Poultry specialist Geti Wilba (8th) grew by 87 percent following the acquisition of Apetio Convenience.
The meat factories of food retailers received a setback in 2021. Only Edeka Südwest Fleisch sold 11 percent more. Brandenburg lost 5 percent. Sales among sausage manufacturers especially declined. Among the top 10, Egetürk, a supplier of Turkish meat products, even grew by 23 percent. www.lebensmittelzeitung.net.