Butchers need contribution-margin discipline as volumes weaken

The quarterly survey by the Deutscher Fleischer-Verband among 92 member businesses paints a difficult picture for Germany’s butcher trade. Almost 40% of businesses reported lower sales in the first half of 2026, while around 29% reported improvement. In terms of volume, roughly 42% recorded declines. The survey is not statistically representative of the entire sector, but it does provide a current signal from organised businesses.