Avena mill after devastating fire: reconstruction planned!

Avena mill after devastating fire: reconstruction planned!

On June 23, 2025, a devastating fire broke out in Avena's Karstädter grain mill, which completely destroyed the production facility within a few hours. The alarm was triggered at 4:40 a.m. and despite the deployment of 130 firefighters with 40 vehicles, the production hall was already fully engulfed in flames. The extinguishing work lasted until Tuesday morning around 8:35 a.m., when the last embers were extinguished. Two people were injured during the operation, and the criminal police have since been investigating suspicions of negligent arson People's voice reported.

The damage amounts to a double-digit million amount. Managing director Frank Pelzke was sad about the loss, but at the same time he announced that the mill would be rebuilt. Tenders are already underway and there is great hope that production will resume next year. Although Avena has stopped production in Karstädt, it does not fear a loss of sales, as products are purchased from other oat mills in order to continue to fulfill existing contracts.

The mood in the company is depressed, especially because the oat harvest is in full swing and Avena cannot accept any goods until the mill is put back into operation in about a year. Nevertheless, the company receives a lot of encouragement and support from the region. Insurance companies are currently covering damages, which is crucial for future planning.

Cause of fire unclear

The cause of the fire remains unclear as the entire machinery was severely affected by the fire, making a later investigation difficult. In the food industry, fire risks are particularly high due to the concentration of production resources and inventories, which significantly increases the damage caused by such incidents. Loud FeuerTrutz Fire losses in the industry have increased dramatically, and even if the number of fires overall is decreasing, the frequency of major losses is increasing. Even if only 43% of the affected companies can resume operations after a fire, Avena has plans to continue to maintain the Karstädt site for production.

For the future, Avena not only plans to rebuild the mill, but also to communicate transparently in collaboration with market partners to achieve understanding in the industry. Crop forecasts remain uncertain for the time being, but the next week or two will be crucial to better assess exact volumes and price trends.

Stay tuned for further developments on this topic in the coming weeks.