The US group Mars offers more than 300 products, from cat food to chocolate bars. But currently customers of German supermarkets are looking for these goods in vain. Mars and many other brand manufacturers argue bitterly with dealers about price increases. An agreement is now in the offing.
For months now, there have been large gaps on the shelves in many German supermarkets, where products from the large food companies are otherwise found. The reason is the unusually tough arguments about the lavish price increases demanded by the manufacturers, which the retail companies do not want to accept. According to a report, there is now movement in the dispute between two of the largest opponents. The “Lebensmittelzeitung” reports that the supermarket giant Rewe and the US Mars Group have agreed to offer the first products from the Mars range at Rewe again. Other products are to follow successively.
The Mars range includes more than 300 products. In addition to chocolate bars and other sweets, this also includes the Mars Food division with brands such as Miracoli and Ben’s Original as well as an extensive range of pet food. According to the “Lebensmittelzeitung”, the first products can now be ordered again for Rewe stores. An agreement is also in the offing for the dispute with the cornflakes manufacturer Kellog, reports the trade journal, citing “internal” information. Details on this approach and the new prices have not yet been released.
It is not unusual for items from individual manufacturers to temporarily disappear from the range of a retail group in the course of regular price negotiations. This year, however, the conflict between Germany’s supermarket and discounter chains and leading brand manufacturers is being waged with particular severity. At the same time, several large retailers removed Mars and Kellog products from their range, some for several months.
The manufacturers justify their high price demands with sharply increased costs. In the case of Mars, this was the second increase within a year. Retailers like Rewe, on the other hand, accuse their suppliers of exploiting inflation to push through exaggerated and unjustified price increases.
While the dispute with Mars is still causing noticeable gaps on the shelves at both Rewe and Germany’s largest food retailer Edeka, other conflicts between manufacturers and retailers have already been settled in recent weeks. For example, a conflict between the beverage giant Coca-Cola and Edeka, which has been at odds for several months, has now been resolved. At times, the dispute was also carried out in court. However, other well-known brands are still missing in many supermarkets. The consumer goods manufacturer Procter
