New Study Reveals Large Differences in Food Supply in German Federal States
According to a recent study by the Cologne Institute of the German Economy (IW Köln), reported by the Funke Media Group, there are significant differences in the food supply density across Germany’s federal states. The so-called food supply density, which is the number of food stores per 10,000 residents, is particularly high in Saxony, Bavaria, and Thuringia. In contrast, North Rhine-Westphalia has the lowest score, according to the IW study.
Specifically, the study found that in Saxony, there are an average of 17.4 food stores per 10,000 residents, in Bavaria 17.0, and in Thuringia 15.8. North Rhine-Westphalia, on the other hand, has the lowest score with 10.8 food stores per 10,000 residents.
On the county level, the counties of Cochem-Zell (36.2 stores per 10,000 residents), Kitzingen (30.4), and Südliche Weinstraße (30.0) are at the top. “In these regions, which are all wine-growing areas, there are mainly shops that specialize in the sale of wine” the IW report states.
In contrast, the city of Salzgitter in Lower Saxony has only 7.1 food stores per 10,000 residents, and in the Ruhr region, which is the most densely populated area in Germany, the supply density in many counties is only seven or eight stores per 10,000 residents.
According to the study, the consequences of a poor food supply density are multifaceted, said IW economist Barbara Engels to the Funke Media Group. She referred to the fact that people living in poorly supplied regions are more dependent on mobility, such as a car or public transportation. “This is particularly disadvantageous for older or less mobile population groups” Engels said. In addition, the quality of life in these regions may be restricted. “So, these regions are also less attractive for people who are considering moving there” the researcher explained further.
The economic development of a region can also be affected by a poorer food supply, Engels said. “Because less purchasing power is tied up locally, there are economic disadvantages for the poorly supplied regions – the money flows to other regions. Online shopping is also likely to be more attractive in poorly supplied regions” Engels said. This, in turn, is bad for retailers who cannot or do not want to position themselves online – and also bad for consumers who do not want or cannot shop online, she added.
The researchers used entries from the OpenStreetMap of the Geofabrik as a data source. According to the IW, the number of stores cannot be used to conclude the sales area. A statement about the actual quality of the supply is therefore not possible, the report states. A main finding, however, is that people in the city or in urban areas have more food stores available, but they have to share these with many more people, as researcher Engels said.