As the Schueberfouer prepares to open its gates, the familiar debate over rising prices resurfaces, with fairgoers wondering just how much more they might be paying for their beloved Gromperekichelcher amid significantly increased costs for stall owners.
As is almost tradition by now, the same question arises every year when the Schueberfouer opens: how much will Gromperekichelcher and a beer cost this time around?
A couple of wholesale products have become significantly more expensive, with some prices even having doubled. For other products, the increase is limited to 10–20%. Cooking oil in particular has become more expensive, much to the dismay of stall owners who have a hard time foregoing oil to prepare iconic Schueberfouer dishes like battered fish, chips, and churros.
Additionally, staff expenses have to be taken into account, which is one of the biggest if not the biggest cost for those running fair stalls, especially since three wage indexations were made last year.
Electricity, water, and gas prices are not to be underestimated either, with every stand, game, and restaurant connected to an individual counter. However, since last year’s invoices have yet to be delivered to the exhibitors, they cannot say much about the anticipated costs for this year.
Meanwhile, renting costs have not increased, as emphasised by the president of the Federation of Exhibitors Charel Hary. In that regard the city was very reasonable and offered to cover costs worth millions of euros, he continued.
The exhibitors to whom RTL spoke ahead of the opening all shared a similar sentiment: they try not to transfer the increase in wholesale prices and staff costs on to consumers. Some have not changed their pricing at all, whereas others have only tweaked them for specific products or dishes.
All in all, excitement for the big opening on Friday is huge. Not everyone has finished setting their stands up, but the bulk is there and, most importantly, the beer pumps are already connected to the kegs.
