Traders like Thomas Franz from Berlin's wholesale market don't have it easy at the moment. Apart from the lack of staff, there also seems to be an increasing shortage of customers in Berlin's restaurants and pubs. "In 2022, we were satisfied with business. At that time, we were already struggling with staff shortages as well, but the problem has actually worsened after the pandemic. Physical night work simply seems to be more in demand. Even if you pay two euros more per hour, you basically can't find any more employees. This is becoming a structural problem for the entire industry."
The Franz company's vehicle park. Photo: Früchte Franz
Restrained influx at retaurateurs
From January to March 2023, he was still able to record a regular course of business, but for April and May, the weather threw a spanner in the works. "In recent years, the sun was already shining again in April and May. The current bad weather is definitely affecting us," Franz said. At the same time, however, he questioned whether it was really just down to the weather. "Many people are worried about their savings and, among other things, the consequences of the war. I've heard from some catering customers that even wealthier guests are now visiting the restaurants less often." The Berlin-based company's product line includes such items as mini-vegetables and Thai asparagus, as well as apples and melons in various sizes and varieties, and much more. It also sources relevant quantities of vegetables from the Palatinate region.
Aside from that, demand for fancier, more expensive products is also down, he said. "It is much more rare to find products like pitahaya and the like, which is not least due to poor logistics. If consumers already have to spend a lot of their money on onions and potatoes, it's not going to be easy for other products," Franz said. "In the past, onions were still being delivered from New Zealand and Tasmania, which were at a high-priced level. Now a bag of vegetable onions from Spain already costs 50 euros/100kg."
On the Berlin wholesale market stand
"We are in good hands at this location. However, there is not only the fruit and vegetable hall, but also the halls for meat, flowers, etc., which are in the worst condition imaginable. That's where we're actually still best off, since our hall was only renovated a good 13 years ago," says Franz. He himself was a member of the supervisory board of the Berlin wholesale market until the fall of 2022. "But how are you supposed to redevelop a 33-hectare site while it's still in operation? That would take a good 20 to 25 years. In addition, the entire infrastructure would also have to be fundamentally changed. It already starts with the fact that the supply and end supply of electricity and any IT technology would have to be purchased. Politicians need to realize that this is impossible to do."
For more information:
Thomas Franz
Alfred Franz Inhaber Thomas Franz e.K.
Beusselstraße 44 N–Q
10553 Berlin (Moabit)
Tel.: +49 (0)30 39 60 21 -0
Fax: +49 (0)30 39 60 21 -30
info@fruechte-franz.de
https://fruechte-franz.de