Manner slices in Austria are twice as expensive as in Germany

Not an isolated case

The waffles filled with hazelnut cream are not an isolated case. Foodwatch has the prices for August in total 20 products from Austrian brand manufacturers compared in Austria and Germany. On average, the products examined were from Manner and others Handl, Rauch, Julius Meinl, Vöslauer, Red Bull, Pfanner or Gösser came from local supermarkets 24 percent more expensive than in the neighboring country.

How it came about is unclear

How the price differences come about remains unclear, even after inquiries from manufacturers and retailers. Billa refers to higher location and system costs in Austria, for example in wages, additional wage costs or taxes. A significant factor is also seen in higher purchase prices for international branded items for Austrian retailers. We’re talking about one “Austria surcharge for industry”.

Manner denies such an “Austrian surcharge”. “We don’t have that.”says a spokeswoman to the KURIER. For reasons of confidentiality, no information can be provided about the purchase prices and conditions. The pricing for consumers is in the Responsibility of trade. The confectionery manufacturer also shows understanding for its trading partners: the price war in Germany is being fought very intensively with a lot of promotions, they say.

During the investigation, care was taken to ensure that the prices compared were not promotional prices, says Miriam Maurer from foodwatch Austria to the KURIER. Austria should no longer be a high-price market, while it remains completely unclear how these price differences come about: manufacturers and retailers point the finger at each other, and in the end it is the consumers who pay the bill.

EU measures are being prepared

The discussion is not new and has been going on for a long time. The drivers of the price differences were the so-called territorial delivery restrictions located. They prevent products from being imported from cheaper EU markets through contractual bans. This could have significant consequences, especially for smaller markets like Austria, according to foodwatch.

Measures are being prepared in the EU. A public consultation by the EU Commission runs until September 29th. Up for discussion voluntary agreements as well as one Ban the delivery restrictions.

“Need binding law”

“We need a clear, binding EU law – no voluntary promises from the industry,” says foodwatch spokeswoman Maurer. Your organization also has one for this Petition hung up. She doesn’t expect a decision until the next one spring.