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German Farmers Stage Tractor Protests at Lidl Sites Over 99‑Cent Butter

Farmers blame retailer tactics for losses, with discounters citing a global milk glut.

Overview

  • Police reported around 140 tractors at Lidl’s German headquarters in Bad Wimpfen, while organizers claimed up to 250, with a vigil planned through Tuesday.
  • Further actions targeted logistics hubs in Radeburg in Saxony (about 20 tractors), Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony overnight, and an ongoing vigil in Wasbek in Schleswig‑Holstein.
  • Major discounters cut 250‑gram own‑brand butter to €0.99 after steep declines in milk commodity values and higher milk‑fat content increased butter output.
  • The Bavarian Farmers’ Association asked the Bundeskartellamt to review whether current retail pricing constitutes below‑cost selling; the authority confirmed receipt of the request.
  • The German dairy farmers’ union (BDM) opposed protests at retailers, arguing market oversupply is the primary cause and urging EU‑funded supply reductions, while Baden‑Württemberg’s agriculture minister scheduled talks for mid‑January.