New year, new rules – also in the supermarket. From 2022, important changes will take effect that every customer at Lidl, Aldi, Rewe, Edeka or Kaufland should be aware of. CHIP summarizes the most important new features and says what you need to know.
The coronavirus will continue to play an important role in people’s everyday lives in 2022. The vaccination can protect against severe Covid-19 courses and will play an important role at least in spring.
In the coming year, more and more retailers are expected to join the vaccination campaign. The drugstore giant dm, for example, has already started a vaccination campaign in Karlsruhe, and other locations are to follow.
This example can also be followed by other drugstores, discount stores and supermarkets that, according to CHIP information, are already working with doctors’ practices and clinics and want to start vaccination campaigns in parking lots.
In addition, in view of the Omikron virus variant, the mask requirement and minimum intervals will remain in place until at least mid-March 2022. It is unclear whether further restrictions will follow.
Closing the trade is largely ruled out. The food supply in Germany will remain secure in 2022.
What happens to delivery bottlenecks?
Most companies expect that the situation in the logistics industry could ease in the second quarter of 2022. Dealers are still complaining about missing products in their warehouses and it is unclear whether the supplies will even arrive.
Retailers such as Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Penny or Norma are only affected by the bottleneck in the non-food sector. So for promotional goods that can be found weekly in the branches.
If the situation eases in the coming year, consumption could pick up again overall. This could also result in a minimal drop in prices.
The only catch: No one can currently predict how much the Omicron virus variant will spread around the world in the next few months. If ports have to close again, as with the Delta virus variant, this would have fatal consequences.
Consumers should be patient in 2022 as well. Construction projects or renovations, as well as new furniture, should be planned well in advance.
It also helps to leaf through brochures from Aldi Süd, Lidl and Co. This can save you a lot of money on furniture, decorative items or clothing.
Selling fruit and vegetables is simplified
A few hours before the store closes, consumers will probably find discounts at Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Co. more easily from spring onwards.
From May 2022, grocers will be able to sell products with an upcoming expiration date or perishable food at a lower price. It is sufficient to simply attach a simple sticker to the products. Previously, the products had to be marked with the old and new price. This was cumbersome for dealers, the goods often ended up in the garbage.
From May, the following applies: It is sufficient to attach a sticker, for example, “30 percent cheaper”. That makes the sale much easier.
Consumers can benefit at the fruit and vegetable counters, in the refrigerated shelves and with meat and fish.
From now on, plastic bags are prohibited at the cash register
From January 1st, plastic shopping bags may no longer be sold or offered at the German tills.
It’s about the so-called “light plastic carrier bags” with a wall thickness between 15 and 50 micrometers. These standard bags, which you get when you go shopping, are still available at every checkout until the end of the year.
Some branches of Rewe, Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Lidl and others had already removed most of the plastic bags from the checkout area.
Exceptions are particularly stable reusable bags and paper bags. The thin plastic bags that you can find at the fruit and vegetable stand, for example, are still there.
Sustainability will play an important role at Aldi, Lidl and Co. in 2022
The largest discounters and supermarkets in Germany have already announced that they no longer want to sell cheap meat. From 2022 Aldi Süd, Aldi Nord, Lidl and others want to do without pork.
Primarily it is about the type of husbandry 1.
The animals have little space in the stables and minimum requirements are sufficient for operators. Experts firmly expect meat prices to rise gradually in 2022.
Milk and cheese packs get a new imprint
From 2022, many dairy products will also be labeled with the corresponding type of husbandry. This allows consumers to see how the cows are kept in the steel.
Rewe and Penny are the first companies to print “Haltungsform” on yoghurt and other dairy products from their own brands Rewe Bio and Natur Gut.
New deposit rules – customers have to dig deeper into their pockets
The compulsory deposit for drinks in plastic bottles will be extended from January 1, 2022. Fruit and vegetable juices, which are available in the refrigerated counter, for example, were previously exempt from the one-way deposit. It changes.
From January 1st, customers will have to pay an additional 25 cents at the checkout. The money will be returned if you bring the empty bottle back later.
Without exception, beverage cans are also subject to a deposit.
You can find the entire overview of the new mandatory deposit here.
Aldi and Lidl have to take back electronic waste
An important innovation is that many supermarkets and discount stores have to take back electronic waste.
As legal experts explain at the request of CHIP Online, the specification is based on the one hand on the range offered and the size of the shop.
Consumers can return a broken electric toothbrush anywhere, just like a small table lamp or a broken pocket calculator. They have to accept the electronic waste even if consumers have bought these devices elsewhere.
However, larger devices such as old televisions can only be handed in if a new device is purchased.