Hessen suffers: gastronomy in the crisis - where has the Ahle sausage?

Hessen suffers: gastronomy in the crisis - where has the Ahle sausage?

Bad Arolsen, Deutschland - Summer in Hesse not only brings sunny days, but also dark clouds for the catering trade. Drivers are desperately looking for an alternative to the crowded highway and do not suspect that culinary diversity could disappear in the small communities. On the federal road, just before Bad Arolsen, signs that indicate the city center are emblazoned, but when you arrive, a different picture shows: ice cream parlor and kebab stalls dominate the street scene while the hoped-for Ahle sausage is missing. "There is nothing here that could please the heart of a real Hesse," murmurs a hungry driver and looks at the dilapidated facades of some restaurants that have long since closed their doors.

and Bad Arolsen seems to be no exception. While the gastronomy is fighting for planets, a look at the overall number of the industry has become clear: in the first half of 2025 there have been almost 12,000 bankruptcies in Germany, the highest number in decade, reports FAZ . Small and young businesses in particular are affected - more than 88 percent of bankruptcies knock on small companies with a maximum of ten employees. The reasons are multi -layered, but spam and inflation show their devastating consequences in gastronomy for everyone.

The end of an era

The industry has lost record -breaking 48,000 companies since 2020, and 6,100 bankruptcy applications were added in 2023 alone. It is becoming increasingly forgotten that the state was able to support many companies through help during the lockdowns. However, it is currently stated that the gastronomy suffers from the pressure of inflation and increasing living costs, which leads to drastically increased operating costs. "This is bitter for the industry", explains Ingrid Hartges, main managing director of the DEHOGA , and thus hits the nerve of many restaurants.

evil, the affected restaurateurs also granted 19 percent due to the significant increase in VAT, which has been in effect since January 2024. "It really hits," complains a host from the region and explains that the income is 13 percent below the 2019 level. The federal government wants to generate additional income through these tax measures, but the hoped -for 3.4 billion euros have their dark side: more and more restaurants are on the edge of the abyss.

The future looks bleak

The view of a return to the pre-corona times remains cloudy. According to estimates, over 15,000 restaurants in Germany could be at risk of insolvency at the end of 2024, as the Creditreform Institute notes. Caterer and catering service provider in particular are severely affected, with an increase in bankruptcies by 67 percent last year. In concrete terms, this also means that every tenth gastronomy company has given up and that the insolven wave is only at the beginning of its cycle, according to the experts from ZDF .

After all these crises and the permanent pressure, it is to be feared that the impressive culinary delight of the region will continue to decrease. Only the hope remains that the new federal government's new plans will actually bear fruit and help the restaurateurs get back on their feet. In the meantime, the image of the closed restaurants remains a clear warning signal for everyone who works in the catering trade.