- Edeka's eastern branch leaders express distancing from the anti-AfD initiative
Major food corporation Edeka has taken a firm stand against the AfD party before the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, utilizing a marketing campaign. However, this move has caused dissent within the company's ranks. Various branches in eastern German states are distancing themselves from Edeka's actions. Local store managers, using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, have expressed that they do not engage in political issues and do not support the parent company's campaign.
A statement from "Nah und Gut in Saxon Bockau", also affiliated with Edeka, states, "We don't comprehend nor endorse why Edeka is voicing political views, and we distance ourselves from it firmly." Their markets cater to everyone, and they operate independently as retailers for their community. Expressing political views as a corporation jeopardizes "our existence and jobs", they add, emphasizing their reliance on every customer.
Similar sentiments were shared by the owners of Edeka markets in Halberstadt, Aschersleben, and Zerbst, all from Saxony-Anhalt. All three statements include the sentence, "I am a food retailer, not a politician, and will not meddle with such issues using my market!"
Edeka and the Anti-AfD Campaign
Edeka published a full-page ad in "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the weekly newspaper "Die Zeit", and on social networks. Titled "Why blue is not an option at Edeka", the ad refers to the AfD party's use of blue as its primary color.
The ad presents various fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, broccoli, bananas, cherries, and strawberries. The text reads, "In the fruit and vegetable section, there's a variety of colors to choose from." It continues, "Evolution has taught us: Blue is not a good choice. In Germany, the Blues are already the biggest threat to a diverse society."
The AfD party responded to Edeka's marketing campaign. Torben Braga, deputy spokesman of the Thuringia state board, thanked an unnamed social network for its "assiduous support" in the election campaign. He addressed Edeka, saying, "Your customers, employees, suppliers also vote for us."
Retail Association HDE Also Criticizes AfD
The German Retail Association (HDE) also voiced its opinion publicly this week. President Alexander von Preen called for a vote for democratic parties. "I can only caution all parties not to skew societal norms towards exclusion and hate," he said. "That doesn't steer society and the economy towards a prosperous future, but towards a dead end," he added.
According to HDE, there are currently around 120,000 vacant positions in retail. "Where will all the necessary manpower come from if exclusionary and isolating politicians rise to power?" von Preen asked. He described the AfD as dangerous and irresponsible: "With Bjorn Hocke, a leading figure of the AfD, has once again revealed his wish for bankruptcy for family businesses that publicly support a campaign for diversity in society and the economy," von Preen pointed out.
Von Preen refers to the campaign "Made in Germany - Made by Diversity", an initiative by more than 40 German companies. Participants include the drugstore chain Rossmann, the chainsaw and garden equipment manufacturer Stihl, the food conglomerate Pfeifer & Langen, the home appliance manufacturer Vorwerk, and the audio specialist Sennheiser. Thuringia's AfD top candidate Höcke had criticized the campaign at a weekend election event in Sommerda, according to an MDR report, labeling it hypocritical. "I hope these companies face severe economic instability," Höcke said.
The AfD party's top candidate in Thuringia, Höcke, criticized the "Made in Germany - Made by Diversity" campaign, which involves several prominent German companies, calling it hypocritical and wishing for economic instability for those involved. Despite this, the deputy spokesman of the Thuringia state board for the AfD, Torben Braga, thanked an unnamed social media platform for its support during the election campaign and acknowledged that Edeka's customers and employees also vote for the party.
