Food scandal: The Quality Group closes its location in Nützen!

Food scandal: The Quality Group closes its location in Nützen!

A change in the regional food industry has been announced. The Quality Group, a well-known company in the production of dietary supplements and food, plans to close its logistics location in Nützen near Kaltenkirchen at the end of this year. Loud NDR The 270 employees will be given the opportunity to move to Elsdorf, Lower Saxony, where a new logistics center will be built. Around 100 employees are expected to start working there.

The reason for this change of location is the desired expansion of production. The More Nutrition brand, particularly known for its weight loss and nutrition products, has repeatedly made headlines in the past. In 2023, the company came under criticism from Jan Böhmermann's satirical show, where it was questioned due to possible health risks associated with its products. There were also police raids and legal proceedings over misleading advertising in Kaltenkirchen and Elmshorn.

A little light on the quality

So what about the credibility of dietary supplements in general? A current survey by consumer advice centers shows that 77% of those surveyed regularly consume dietary supplements. Over half of them take these products at least once a week. But many consumers are not aware that there are no legal maximum levels for ingredients such as vitamins or minerals. This does the reputation of companies like Quality Group a disservice. The Consumer advice center The federal association is therefore calling for stricter monitoring of health-related advertising and clear legal regulations.

Quality Group, which was formed from the merger of several companies including Fitmart and More Nutrition in 2020, has significantly reduced its brand portfolio in the past. For example, the VAYU brand was dissolved and the GOT7 Nutrition brand was integrated into More Nutrition. Wikipedia reports that the group is also active in influenza marketing, which is repeatedly criticized. Critics claim that influencers often make false advertising claims and may even be pressured to avoid certain statements.

Another warning signal came at the beginning of 2024 when the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center sued the Quality Group for misleading health promises. The Hamburg regional court ruled in favor of the consumer advice center. These developments are anything but a good sign for the industry, which is already struggling with numerous challenges.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop for the 270 employees in Nützen. While a change of location can offer new opportunities, for many it will certainly be a challenge to settle into a new environment. The region is watching developments closely because there is clearly a lot at stake here, both for employees and for the reputation of the Quality Group.