While large brand manufacturers are currently negotiating and arguing with supermarkets about conditions and prices, there are often gaps in the shelves for inexpensive no-name products. FOCUS online says why you can hardly buy cheap flour at the moment – and how to defy the expensive phase.
At Aldi, Lidl, Penny and Netto Marken-Discount, bargain hunters have been looking in vain for cheap flour for weeks. The shelf space at Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Edeka and Lidl in particular is occupied by organic and brand manufacturers. The cheaper alternatives are only available if you are lucky.
The background is the increased flour and grain prices. As insiders explain, mills and middlemen can no longer guarantee cheaper prices. At the same time, retailers seem to find it difficult to set higher shelf prices. As industry services unanimously report, the cheap flour packs are tied to lucrative conditions that date back to the previous year.
Because mills and manufacturers can no longer absorb the costs, branches are supplied with fewer goods. So that there is no artificial bottleneck, the missing cheaper products are replaced by branded and organic products.
At the same time, this provides more choice.
While Aldi customers are currently only lucky enough to find cheap flour from the own brand “Mühlengold” or “Goldähren”, they can buy flour from the regional own brand “Von Daheim”, the brand manufacturer “Roland Mills” and the organic manufacturer “Schneekoppe”.
The price differences are still significant. While a kilogram of wheat flour from “Mühlengold” costs 45 cents, consumers pay 89 cents for the same amount of flour from their own brand “Von Daheim”, 1.05 euros for the branded product and 1.79 euros for Schneekoppe flour regularly sells “Belbake” flour for 49 cents. Instead, there is “Weltgold” flour for 89 cents or organic flour for 99 cents.
The development at Rewe is similar. Flour from the company’s own brand “Ja” (45 cents) is only available irregularly. Instead, customers have to use flour from “Aurora” (1.19 euros), “Diamant” (1.19 euros), “Rewe Beste Wahl” (89 cents) or from Bio Campo Verde (3.79 euros).
Experts rule out a bottleneck. The availability of goods is secured.
However, the low flour prices can apparently not be maintained. “Despite a temporary doubling of raw material prices and despite massive price increases in logistics, packaging and energy, flour prices have risen very moderately,” says the Association of Grain, Milling and Starch Industries (VGMS).
The retailers concerned did not comment on request. “Please understand that we generally do not provide any further information on our pricing or internal processes,” it says succinctly.
Consumers may have to adjust to rising prices. “A foreseeable return to end consumer prices of 45 cents is unlikely,” says an assessment by the industry service “Lebensmittel Zeitung” (paid content).
Anyone who wants to save should therefore use apps, vouchers and brochures.
The larger discounters have XXL family packs on sale at least once a month. Flour is also available there. In many cases, the pack of 10 is available for less than 7 euros. If that is too much for you, you can ask your family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances and divide up the XXL packs.
A cheap alternative are also remaining stock sales points or bargain markets. In the grocery department, you can often find packs of flour for under 50 cents. The baker around the corner can also order and deliver flour. Here you buy at wholesale market prices. As a result, branded flour costs less than one euro.
Supermarket prices are skyrocketing, but furniture, clothing, shoes and other consumer goods are also becoming more expensive. As a retail expert, I know the tricks of the trade and tell you how you can save money for you and your family every month when shopping. Would you like to talk to me about your savings tips and tricks? Did you notice anything while shopping? Then send an e-mail to Konstantinos.mitsis@burda-forward.de with your name and phone number
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