The future of Cologne's wholesale market has now also become a topic for BUND e.V. because there is agreement on the issues of promoting small and medium-sized producers from the region, sustainability, and ensuring the supply of fresh, healthy food for all citizens of the region. This is where the call to action meets the potential decision-makers. "We want to once again make the city administration and politicians fully aware of the consequences of the latest decisions on the Cologne wholesale market and, considering the irreversible damage caused by these decisions, demand relief for the traders and, as decided by the council, the creation of an interim solution," writes IG Kölner Großmarkt e.V. in a statement.
On June 5, 2025, the Economic Committee will meet for the last time in this legislative period. This is the last opportunity for politicians to address the issue of the wholesale market. "We are therefore taking this opportunity to submit a proposal for action to give the remaining traders at Cologne's wholesale market one last chance to secure the future of their businesses. The council decision of October 1, 2024, on the 'Discontinuation of wholesale market operations and repeal of market regulations as of December 31, 2025' (1824/2024) means that the traders operating in the wholesale market face an acute risk to their existence, including business closure or bankruptcy, due to the lack of any prospects for a modern fresh produce center. The consultations and resolutions for a modern fresh produce center pursued by the council since 2007 have been rendered obsolete in practice and formally repealed by the above-mentioned council resolution."
"In light of this, we appeal to you as responsible local politicians to at least mitigate the economic hardship somewhat and provide practical assistance in finding an interim location:
- We would like to ask you to instruct the administration by resolution to exempt the traders operating at Cologne's wholesale market from any demolition obligations when handing over the leased and rented properties so that the traders do not have to bear any additional costs. They urgently need their financial resources to maintain their own economic existence, e.g., for new investments, rental deposits, brokerage fees, etc., at a replacement location.
- The remaining traders at the wholesale market would like to continue their operations as a joint network at a suitable interim location until a relocation to a modern fresh produce center is in sight. To this end, the council also passed the 'Modern Fresh Produce Center or Food Hub' resolution on October 1, 2024. It is in the public interest to concentrate the trader network at one location because these players will be an important part of the sponsorship of a future fresh produce center.
- The above-mentioned council resolution resulted in the following mandate: "KölnBusiness Wirtschaftsförderungs GmbH will offer retailers support in finding municipal land or private properties. Where possible, businesses should be offered space that preserves existing cooperations and networks in the immediate vicinity. However, the fact is that KölnBusiness has not provided sufficient support to date."
They add: "However, this would be possible if the Economic Committee, through a motion on June 4, 2025, emphatically obliges the administration to use the last remaining months to identify an interim location as a trading center and to initiate the necessary approval procedures without delay. We are aware that there are municipal and private commercial sites in Cologne that are ready for development and would be suitable for an interim solution. We would like to hold urgent talks on this matter. We therefore ask you to instruct the administration to set up a task force at short notice comprising departments IX (Economy, Urban Development), VIII (Real Estate), and VI (Urban Planning), which, together with representatives of the traders, will identify an interim location, actively support the necessary rapid implementation, and initiate the necessary administrative measures."
The IG Großmarkt has already communicated the minimum requirements for an interim location to the administration in concrete terms for 2024 and is immediately available to hold the necessary discussions and reach agreements with such a task force.
For more information:
Michael Rieke
Interessengemeinschaft Kölner Großmarkt e.V.
c/o Früchte Heep GmbH
Marktstraße 10
50968 Köln
[email protected]
www.koelner-grossmarkt.de
