Sunday ban for near purchase: Rothemann loses food supply!

Sunday ban for near purchase: Rothemann loses food supply!

In the small town of Rothemann in the Fulda district, there is currently excitement to close a local supplier on Sunday. The operator Stefan Reith received a letter from the district, which prohibits him to open his mini supermarket that day. This is done due to a continuous violation of the Hessian Late Open Act, which prohibits the sale on Sundays and public holidays. The ministerial notification that is threatened to him amounts to a penalty payment of 2,500 euros, should the doors of the market continue to be open on Sunday.

The Reith market, which has been on the B27 for almost 40 years, has not only offered its customers fresh rolls, but also a comprehensive food supply - seven days a week. The sudden ban now puts the existence of the business in danger, since sales on Sunday are of crucial importance for a small operation. "The doors have to remain closed," said Reith, who employs eleven employees and rely on the niche offers of the market in order to be able to compete in the competition.

legal requirements and their consequences

The problem of the local supplier was mainly during a control by the district of Fulda's commercial audit service, which took place in August. There it was found that not only baked goods, but also other products were sold, which blew up the legal framework. For Reith, this means not only loss of sales, but also difficulties when handing over the business to a possible successor. "I am now 65 years old and want to find a successor in a few years. But that will be difficult if I can't hand over the shop healthy," he said.

The mayor of Rothemann, Oskar Kanne (CDU), supports the initiative of Reith and notices how important the Sunday opening for the village community would be. Many in the village would like to continue to buy fresh baked goods on Sundays. "A solution would be desirable as long as it takes into account the legal requirements," explains Kanne. However, the current law makes it almost impossible to open the market on Sunday without using large parts for baked goods presentation.

new legal framework conditions

In a slightly different light, new regulations are emerging that affect fully automated supermarkets, such as the Teo markets of Tegut. Under certain conditions, these may also open on Sundays and public holidays, provided that your sales area does not exceed 120 square meters. This makes the question arise as to whether such regulations should not be covered for small retailers in order to secure their survival in an increasingly challenging commercial landscape.

Although the legal situation is clear, the question remains how long this condition is portable for companies such as that of Stefan Reith. "I have always tried to offer the customer good service, especially on Sunday when many people have time to shop," says Reith. But now the doors of his market stand still, which poses special challenges for him and the community. For further information on this problem and the action of the Fulda district, see the report at www.fuldaerzeitung.de .