Insolvency shock in Bautzen: Traditional sausage is fighting for survival!

Insolvency shock in Bautzen: Traditional sausage is fighting for survival!

In the sausage industry, it rumbles tremendously: The master's Wurst- und Fleischwaren GmbH from Bautzen is insolvent and officially filed for bankruptcy on February 19, 2025. The company, founded in 2020, can look back on an impressive tradition until 1890 and supplies numerous retail chains such as Edeka, Globus, Norma, Selgros, Rewe and Kaufland with a variety of products, including salmon ham, mettwurst, salami and poultry. The sudden production stop, which was triggered by a technical defect, led to a weekly loss of up to 40 tons and tightened the already tense financial situation.

causes of bankruptcy

The bankruptcy is the result of a perfect storm situation: increasing costs for wages, energy and raw materials, together with the burden of CO₂ tax, the company brought the company to the brink of ruin. Managing Director Karl Dominick and the Mayor of Bautzen, Karsten Vogt, are now faced with the challenge of renovating the company. Many hope for a positive turn, because, as already reported, the salaries of the 56 employees are secured by March, and the first renovation plans are in the works. Nevertheless, the fate of the company remains uncertain, since the situation is anything but simple - "the way that lies ahead of us is rocky," says Dominick.

The insolvency administrator has assured that the production and sale of the goods can be continued to the usual extent. Nevertheless, Master's sausage and meat products join a chain of bankruptcies within the industry, as well as a popular sausage brand from Saxony-Anhalt and a no less estimated provider in the Ruhr area. The crisis not only affects Bautzen, but also reflects the challenges with which many companies are confronted in the food industry. Consumers may now have to adapt to changes in the range, since the uncertainties remain.