The COVID-19 virus met Germany, like the rest of Europe relatively unprepared. With the rising number of infections, the government implemented a first round of lockdown starting from mid-March up to mid-May 2020. A second round of lockdown lasting from early November 2020 up to the end of May 2021 followed. Just shops selling food stuff could stay open, while all shops providing “non-essential” goods and services had to be closed. Schools and kindergartens had to be closed as well and most people were advised to work from home. The government adopted a large number of financial support measures to keep companies going. Overall, the economy witnessed a steep decline, particularly during the second quarter, but it is gradually recovering since then. There had been a few incidences of COVID-19 outbreaks on farms, but these were restricted to fruit and vegetables farms which are highly dependent on seasonal labor. Actually, farmers registered an improvement of their image among the general public. Consumers had to change their way of life. Most of them faced empty shelves in supermarkets for the first time in their lives. Home cooking and home baking became more popular. Over time, it became evident that the demand for organic products, regional products, vegetarian and vegan products, and premium segments of the various products increased. While the restaurants and canteens were the main losers of COVID-19, the food retail industry can be identified as the big winner. Online shopping got a big boost, but it is still a niche market channel. For the time being, a slightly optimistic mood prevails.
Keywords: COVID-19, agricultural production, food processing, food retail systems, consumer attitudes, role of farmers
The COVID-19 virus met Germany, like the rest of Europe relatively unprepared. With the rising number of infections, the government implemented a first round of lockdown starting from mid-March up to mid-May 2020. A second round of lockdown lasting from early November 2020 up to the end of May 2021 followed. Just shops selling food stuff could stay open, while all shops providing “non-essential” goods and services had to be closed. Schools and kindergartens had to be closed as well and most people were advised to work from home. The government adopted a large number of financial support measures to keep companies going. Overall, the economy witnessed a steep decline, particularly during the second quarter, but it is gradually recovering since then. There had been a few incidences of COVID-19 outbreaks on farms, but these were restricted to fruit and vegetables farms which are highly dependent on seasonal labor. Actually, farmers registered an improvement of their image among the general public. Consumers had to change their way of life. Most of them faced empty shelves in supermarkets for the first time in their lives. Home cooking and home baking became more popular. Over time, it became evident that the demand for organic products, regional products, vegetarian and vegan products, and premium segments of the various products increased. While the restaurants and canteens were the main losers of COVID-19, the food retail industry can be identified as the big winner. Online shopping got a big boost, but it is still a niche market channel. For the time being, a slightly optimistic mood prevails.
Keywords: COVID-19, agricultural production, food processing, food retail systems, consumer attitudes, role of farmers