In 2023, the city of Berlin witnessed a surge in demand for affordable or complimentary food offerings, primarily due to the escalating cost of living as a consequence of inflation. Wolfgang Büscher, the spokesperson for the Arche children's aid project, acknowledged, "We've never experienced something like this year." The Arche invested approximately 300,000 euros in food supplies, supplying nearly 1000 families during five significant distribution days at their Hellersdorf headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Berliner Tafel has grappled with an uptick in demand for quite some time. Since the commencement of the Russian aggression towards Ukraine and the subsequent inflation, around 75,000 people have monthly consumed food from the Tafel's 48 "Laib und Seele" distribution locations. This figure signifies a remarkable jump from the 40,000 individuals who benefited from the service during 2021.
To keep pace with the soaring demand, eight pop-up distribution points established in spring 2022 by the Berlin Tafel are still operational, initially set up as a transitional solution. The immense need has sustained their relevance to the present day.
Arche, however, has ceased large-scale distribution events, as they no longer aligned with their primary objectives. "It was simply too much, and it wasn't within our core competencies," clarified Büscher. Arche continues to cater to families whose children utilize their leisure activities, dispatching food assistance twice a month, or when required. The families can choose from a selection of products, including treats like sweets and chocolates liked by children.
Tafel also extends assistance to social institutions such as homeless shelters and women's refuges by offering food at cheap or nominal prices in return for proof of need. Around 91,000 individuals are reached each month through this approach. Despite the augmented demand, the supply of food products has not dramatically evolved, maintaining a consistent 660 tons per month.
"Too Good To Go," a mobile application enabling merchants to sell surplus food items at reduced rates, reveals an uptick in participation during 2023. This growth encompasses an increase in partner businesses, registered users, and surprise bag sales. Although Berlin-specific figures had not been disclosed by December 14, 2023, nationally, 14.6 million surprise bags were sold, marking an improvement from the previous year's total of 10.5 million.
The food bank posits that surplus food supply has not expanded as much as the demand, while acknowledging that the nature of donated goods has changed. Fruits and vegetables, along with dairy products, have declined in availability. On the other hand, perishable goods, as well as hygiene products and cleaning supplies, are becoming more prevalent. The suppliers' apparent shift towards retailers selling surplus goods at the end of their best-before dates for an extended duration may be one of the reasons for the discrepancy.
References:
