Weekly market in Dessau threatened: dealers defend themselves against moving!

Weekly market in Dessau threatened: dealers defend themselves against moving!

in Dessau The weekly market is a hot topic. The dealers at the location next to the peace bell are currently experiencing a real sales boom: Many reports indicate that sales here are twice as high compared to other locations. Seller Anke Hartenstein and her colleague Simone Dittrich, who is responsible for agricultural products, express her regret about the possible moving plans of the market. "The situation is stupid," says fruit seller Sebastian Hertel, who also shows that the current space for customers is clearly visible and easily accessible. The dealers fear that moving could lead to major sales losses.

An resentment spreads among the market feeders: a signature campaign against the move has already mobilized many older customers who have expressed their concerns about the current situation. According to mdr.de It is explained that weekly markets can only take place on certain areas and at fixed times. But the dealers cannot understand the symptoms and demand an expansion of the weekly market statute.

a crisis situation for weekly markets

But Dessau is not only with his challenges. Nationwide, dealers also feel the pressure at weekly markets. According to a report by the german-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de they recorded an inflation-adjusted drop in sales in 2023 compared to the previous year. In some federal states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, the decline is even higher, over 10 percent. This presents dealers with massive challenges, since the proceeds decrease more than the number in retail as a whole. Trade experts lead the high inflation in food as a reason, which is why many customers are looking for cheaper alternatives.

The changes in consumption behavior cannot be overlooked either. Only 15 percent of Germans go to a weekly market at least once a week, while 30 percent never attend such a market, according to a survey by Yougov . So the days when weekly markets were very popular. Experts point out that discounters benefit from the situation, especially when it comes to organic products. This also limits the competitiveness of the markets.

The future of the weekly markets

drastic sales declines and decreasing customer numbers question the future of the weekly markets. There are around 40,000 market merchants nationwide and the number of active dealers sinks. Many young people show no interest in this profession, which could endanger the diversity of the markets in the long term. But not everyone sees the situation negatively: Sven Schulte from the IHK NRW emphasizes the social function of the markets and the continuing demand for high -quality food.

A rethink is required to make the weekly markets more attractive again. The dealers in Dessau hope that the conversation with the city administration will lead to a mutual solution. After all, it is only about 50 meters. Until then, there is a reason for joy for the dealers at the current location: good sales ensure satisfaction - and the market remains alive.