CSU visit to Weiden: Brunner baker defies challenges in the craft!

CSU visit to Weiden: Brunner baker defies challenges in the craft!

There is a lot of activity in the Brunner bakery in Weiden. Here, traditional craftsmanship meets innovative technology - a combination that makes the bakery one of the pioneers in the industry. As part of a company visit, CSU mayoral candidate Benjamin Zeitler and Bundestag member Albert Rupprecht discussed the current challenges and opportunities for trades and medium-sized businesses with managing director Gerhard Brunner as well as authorized signatory Nico Rath and commercial manager Alexander Harrer. These discussions took place in light of a structural change that is greatly affecting the bakery industry. So reported oberpfalzecho.de: “The company employs 700 people from 34 different nations and uses modern technologies such as artificial intelligence to optimize the use of goods.”

But not everything is about change. The bakery industry is faced with positive but also challenging times. The shortage of skilled workers is one of the biggest challenges, while at the same time energy costs are rising and bureaucracy poses problems for many companies. This is leading to a decline in bakery businesses in Germany, which have fallen by 30 percent in the last ten years, as the NGG union reports. Rbb24.de adds that uncomfortable working hours and high investment costs are pushing many companies to the brink of their existence.

Technology and tradition in craftsmanship

During the visit, Benjamin Zeitler emphasized the need for a strong partnership between politics and small and medium-sized businesses in order to secure jobs and innovative strength in the industry. “The craft has heart and attitude,” he emphasized. Albert Rupprecht added that family businesses like the Brunner Bakery have a special responsibility. “They are the backbone of our economy,” Rupprecht continued. Boeckler.de shows that more than 20,000 jobs have been lost in the bakery trade since 2014, while at the same time the number of part-time workers has increased significantly.

What's next? Amid these challenges, there are also bright spots: the number of trainees in the baked goods industry increased again in 2024. The union sees a positive trend, but this must be accompanied by continued efforts to improve working conditions. A possible solution would be to shift night work to day work, a recommendation that some companies are already implementing. Trainees are becoming increasingly important, especially those with a migration background. Around a quarter of trainees now have such a background, which represents a rich perspective for the industry.

The future of the industry

The Brunner bakery shows how it can be possible to combine tradition and modern technology while remaining at the forefront. “We carry out certified energy audits every year and use automated cash register systems,” says Brunner. With a clear focus on regional value creation and sustainable practices, the business could be a role model for other bakeries in the region and beyond. In view of the latest developments, the industry is calling for a rethink in order to make the professions more attractive and combat the shortage of skilled workers in the long term. Because one thing is clear: the bakery trade is more than just baking bread - it is an art that deserves every support.