08/01/2026
The German Weather Service has issued an official weather warning for large parts of Germany. Heavy frost, snowfall and storms are currently having a considerable impact on transport operations.
- Thomas Schneidawind
In demand: 100 days of VAT increase in the gastronomy sector
It has been just under 100 days since the VAT on food in restaurants was increased from 7 to 19 percent. We spoke to Dr. Thomas Geppert about this topic.
"The situation in the hospitality industry is very serious," says the regional managing director of the DEHOGA Bavaria. "We are seeing consumer restraint, per capita sales are falling." In concrete figures, this means that nominal sales in January 2024 are down by 2.4% compared to January 2023, while real sales are down by 5.0%. Dr. Thomas Geppert: "This is a bitter development, as the hospitality industry is the regional economic, integration and employment engine. Equal taxes on food - whether consumed in a beer garden or to-go at a snack bar - must be introduced in order to maintain structures. In addition, we finally need statutory weekly working hours, a genuine reduction in bureaucracy and administration and incentives to work."
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Thomas Schneidawind
Managing director,
Contact person for
Beans, capers, peppers, hot peppers and tomato products
