Doner delight: German kebab workers savour historic pay deal
They complained that they were not paid enough for the hard work, which involves marinating veal, chicken and turkey and putting it on skewers in cold temperatures, according to a report in financial weekly WirftschaftsWoche.
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Turkey and Germany in spicy feud over doner kebab
The long-running dispute at the plant in Murr, southwest Germany, was finally settled Friday when a deal was agreed with management, according to the NGG food, beverages and catering union.
The union hailed the pay deal as the "first collective bargaining agreement in the kebab meat industry," adding that it "marks the beginning of an important chapter in labour relations".
"We are convinced that this collective agreement sends an important signal to our employees, expressing our appreciation for their hard work and dedication," added Cihan Karaman, a spokesman for Meat World SE, the parent company of Birtat.
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The agreement sets the starting monthly salary at €2,600 ($3,300), with increases to be implemented by the end of 2026, the NGG said. It covers about 120 workers, according to news outlet Der Spiegel.
The humble doner, made with thinly sliced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, has its origins in Turkey but is beloved in Germany after being introduced there by Turkish migrants.
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DW
12-08-2025
- DW
Turkey's hazelnut frost threatens chocolate supply chains – DW – 08/12/2025
Turkey, the world's largest hazelnut supplier, faces frost‑hit crops, pushing chocolate prices higher for brands like Nutella and Ferrero Rocher. We've grown accustomed to supermarket shortages, from toilet paper during COVID-19 to sunflower oil amid the Ukraine war and eggs during bird flu outbreaks. The latest casualty is the hazelnut, due to a rare and devastating frost in April in Turkey, the world's largest supplier, and ongoing climate change pressures. Since April, Hazelnut prices have jumped over 35%, as exporters rushed to buy up the more limited supply. At one point, Turkish hazelnut futures prices exceeded 200 lira ($4.91, €4.22) per kilogram, with predictions of $10 per kilo internationally. This shortfall is set to hit sweet tooths hard, as the cost of Nutella, the beloved chocolate-hazelnut spread, faces sharp price increases, along with other chocolates and baked goods. Although hazelnuts don't get much attention, they are a key ingredient in many premium and mass market products. The stakes are high for brands like Ferrero, which makes Nutella and reportedly uses around a quarter of the world's hazelnut supply. Hazelnuts make up about 13% of Nutella's recipe. Millions of jars of the chocolate spread are sold annually, meaning even small price rises drive up production costs and squeeze margins. If sustained, the hazelnut shortage may force Ferrero and other producers to reformulate the recipes for their sweet treats. Confectioners could potentially be forced to shrink product sizes or pass costs onto consumers just as the popular festive period draws closer. Ferrero's roots are in Italy's Piedmont region, where high-quality Tonda Gentile hazelnuts are grown. In addition to Italy, Ferrero sources hazelnuts annually from Turkey, Chile and the United States. The Italian food giant also makes Ferrero Rocher, Kinder Bueno and Mon Cheri chocolates, among others, which all contain the nut. The company played down concerns about shortages in a statement to DW, saying: "The Ferrero Group diversifies sourcing from multiple origins worldwide and, thanks to its long-term strategy, Ferrero does not expect any supply disruptions for its products." The firm said its sourcing strategy ensured "a consistent year-round supply." Estimates from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) in June put the 2025 crop at 520,000 metric tons, versus the roughly 750,000 tons expected initially, although it was later revised up. The International Nut & Dried Fruit Council (INC) told DW that the frost in Turkey had cut the hazelnut crop forecast by nearly 22% to about 601,000 tons in-shell, citing a more optimistic projection from the Black Sea Exporters' Association (KiB). According to INC, the latest estimate suggests the country lost about 167,000 tons to the frost, compared to initial fears of nearly 250,000. Fortunately, Turkey held back some of its 2022 crop — around 150,000 metric tons, INC said, which has now been exhausted. This should help reduce the shortfall. Hazelnuts are harvested annually, typically in late summer. However, in years of surplus, Turkey often stores excess crops for future sale as farmers anticipate higher prices. Corporate buyers are now looking to Chile, Georgia, and the US to reduce reliance on Turkey, but are also secretly hoping that prices stabilize if the 2025 Turkish crop is better than feared. "The hazelnut harvest in Turkey will begin on August 10 and is expected to be completed around mid-September," the German confectioners' association BDSI told DW in a written statement. BDSI said it would only be able to assess the impact once the harvest was over. Other hazelnut growing regions also face challenges. Chile and Georgia produce far less than Turkey, and US hazelnuts, mainly from Oregon, differ in flavor. Scaling up production elsewhere takes years, as hazelnut trees take 5-7 years to mature, limiting short-term relief. Some believe Turkey's delay in announcing a base hazelnut price last year also left a vacuum that was filled by speculators and exporters. The KiB traditionally sets a price floor at the beginning of the harvest to stabilize the market and guide farmer expectations. But the lack of a base price amplified shortage fears, drove up prices and triggered panic buying. Sensing an opportunity to profit, farmers withheld stock, further tightening supply. The shortage also exposes a more profound vulnerability: the fragility of crop-dependent sectors to the effects of climate change. Hazelnuts are particularly sensitive to spring frosts, and this year's cold snap in Turkey is a stark reminder of how the climate crisis doesn't just mean heat but unpredictability. Coffee and cocoa have recently faced climate-related disruptions. The hazelnut shortage has forced confectioners to rethink sourcing and ingredients for their sweet treats. Experts have warned that erratic weather could become more frequent, threatening hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts.
DW
12-08-2025
- DW
Hazelnut crunch: How Turkey's frost bites chocolate lovers – DW – 08/12/2025
A cold snap shrank the hazelnut harvest in Turkey, the world's largest supplier. European confectioners, already hit by high cocoa prices, are bracing for more costly Nutella, Ferrero Rocher and Ritter Sport. We've grown accustomed to supermarket shortages, from toilet paper during COVID-19 to sunflower oil amid the Ukraine war and eggs during bird flu outbreaks. The latest casualty is the hazelnut, due to a rare and devastating frost in April in Turkey — the world's largest supplier — and ongoing climate change pressures. Hazelnut prices have jumped over 35% since April, as exporters rushed to buy up the more limited supply. At one point, Turkish hazelnut futures prices exceeded 200 lira ($4.91, €4.22) per kilogram, with predictions of $10 per kilo internationally. This shortfall is set to hit sweet tooths hard, as the cost of Nutella, the beloved chocolate-hazelnut spread, faces sharp price increases, along with other chocolates and baked goods. Although hazelnuts don't get much attention, they are a key ingredient in many premium and mass market products. For brands like Ferrero, which makes Nutella and reportedly uses around a quarter of the world's hazelnut supply, the stakes are high. Hazelnuts make up about 13% of Nutella's recipe. Millions of jars of the chocolate spread are sold annually, meaning even small price rises drive up production costs and squeeze margins. The hazelnut shortage, if sustained, may force Ferrero and other producers to reformulate the recipes for their sweet treats. Confectioners could potentially be forced to shrink product sizes or pass costs onto consumers, just as the popular festive period draws closer. Ferrero's roots are in Italy's Piedmont region, where high-quality Tonda Gentile hazelnuts are grown. As well as Italy, Ferrero sources hazelnuts annually from Turkey, Chile and the United States. The Italian food giant also makes Ferrero Rocher, Kinder Bueno and Mon Cheri chocolates, among others, which all contain the nut. The company played down concerns about shortages in a statement to DW, saying: "The Ferrero Group diversifies sourcing from multiple origins worldwide and, thanks to its long-term strategy, Ferrero does not expect any supply disruptions for its products." The firm said its sourcing strategy ensured "a consistent year-round supply." Estimates from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) in June put the 2025 crop at 520,000 metric tons, versus the roughly 750,000 tons originally expected, although it was later revised up. The International Nut & Dried Fruit Council (INC) told DW that the frost in Turkey had cut the hazelnut crop forecast by nearly 22% to about 601,000 tons in-shell, citing a more optimistic projection from the Black Sea Exporters' Association (KiB). The latest estimate suggests the country lost about 167,000 tons to the frost, according to INC. This compares to initial fears of nearly 250,000. Fortunately, Turkey held back some of its 2022 crop — around 150,000 metric tons, INC said, which has now been exhausted. This should help reduce the shortfall. Hazelnuts are harvested annually, typically in late summer. But in years of surplus, Turkey often stores excess crops for future sale as farmers anticipate higher prices. Corporate buyers are now looking to Chile, Georgia, and the US to reduce reliance on Turkey, but are also secretly hoping that prices stabilize if the 2025 Turkish crop is better than feared. "The hazelnut harvest in Turkey will begin on August 10 and is expected to be completed around mid-September," the German confectioners' association BDSI told DW in a written statement. BDSI said it would only be able to assess the impact once the harvest was over. Other hazelnut growing regions also face challenges. Chile and Georgia produce far less than Turkey, and US hazelnuts, mainly from Oregon, differ in flavor and cost less. Scaling up production elsewhere takes years, as hazelnut trees take 5-7 years to mature, limiting short-term relief. Some believe Turkey's delay in announcing a base hazelnut price last year also left a vacuum that was filled by speculators and exporters. The KiB traditionally sets a price floor at the beginning of the harvest to stabilize the market and guide farmer expectations. But the lack of a base price amplified shortage fears, drove up prices and triggered panic buying. Sensing an opportunity to profit, farmers withheld stock, further tightening supply. The shortage also exposes a deeper vulnerability: the fragility of crop-dependent sectors to the effects of climate change. Hazelnuts are particularly sensitive to spring frosts, and this year's cold snap in Turkey is a stark reminder of how the climate crisis doesn't just mean heat — it also means unpredictability. Coffee and cocoa have recently faced climate-related disruptions. Together with the hazelnut shortage, confectioners have been forced to rethink sourcing and ingredients in their sweet treats. Experts have warned that erratic weather could become more frequent, not just threatening hazelnuts but also almonds and walnuts.
DW
11-08-2025
- DW
Is Turkey becoming football's next Saudi Arabia? – DW – 08/11/2025
The high prices Turkey's top football clubs have been paying on the transfer market has some comparing it to Saudi Arabia. But what's behind this spending spree, and is it sustainable? Once seen as a place to land for an aging star on the downside of his career, Turkey's Super Lig is emerging as a serious player in the transfer market – even rivaling Saudi Arabia, a football financial powerhouse in recent years. The sums being offered by Istanbul's "big three" — Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas — are allowing them to attract international stars such as Victor Osimhen, Leroy Sane, and Jhon Duran. Super Lig champions Galatasaray, who had Osimhen on loan last season, have now agreed to pay Napoli €75 million ($87 million) for the Nigerian striker's permanent transfer. This is not only by far the most expensive signing in Turkish football history, but also the third-most expensive transfer of the current transfer window globally. Galatasaray are to pay Osimhen a net annual salary of €21 million, while German international Sane, recently signed from Bayern Munich, is to earn €12 million per year. Fenerbahce's new striker, Jhon Duran, on loan from Saudi club Al-Nassr, will reportedly earn close to €20 million net annually. His former teammate Anderson Talisca, who joined Fenerbahce from Al-Nassr in January, is said to be earning €15 million per year. But Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas are splashing out on record-breaking signings despite being burdened by high debt – and being located in a country that's been struggling economically. The combined debt of the trio and Trabzonspor — widely seen as Turkey's fourth biggest club — is thought to exceed €1 billion, as their revenues have long fallen short of covering their expenditures. Some believe that the government tacitly supports the increased spending, as high-profile signings in this football-crazy country serve to deflect attention away from problems like high inflation and unemployment. "Turning a blind eye to the transfer spectacle can be interpreted as part of an effort to distract the masses during an economic crisis, to defuse public anger, and to keep clubs — and their fan bases — under control," sports columnist Onur Ozgen told DW. "We are living through a local version of 'panem et circenses', or bread and circuses politics," added Ozgen, who writes for BirGun, one of the few remaining opposition dailies in print in Turkey. Ozgen is by no means alone in this assessment. "Football dominates the agenda of poor communities," football economist Tugrul Aksar told DW. "People who can't even afford to bring bread home are watching transfer news all day long," explained the founder of Turkey's only website dedicated to reporting on the business side of football. As a result, most fans are focused the big-name signings, not on the financial burden associated with them. "There's fierce competition between us and our archrival Fenerbahce in the Turkish league. We must maintain our superiority at all costs — in fact, we need to widen the gap," Mehmet, a Galatasaray fan told DW. "Big signings also give us a psychological edge over our rivals." Over 90% of Turkish football fans support one of the big three, giving them enormous political clout. Their vast fan bases represent a powerful "vote bank" often courted by governments, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, the AKP. In recent years, the three clubs have received substantial state support in efforts to boost their revenues. Backed by approval by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey — which operates under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance — they have repeatedly issued new shares to raise capital from investors. Meanwhile, their debts have been restructured through loan agreements with public banks. "Big clubs in Turkey have long operated with close ties to the state," Ahmet Talimciler, professor of sociology at Bakircay University in Izmir told DW. "Because their debts are periodically written off or forgiven, they continue to make expensive signings without hesitation." In 2022 the government introduced a law that it said was meant to prevent reckless borrowing by clubs. This law provides for serious sanctions, including clauses that allow prison sentences for officials who drive their clubs into debt. However, the law, which permits clubs to borrow only up to 10% of their previous year's gross revenue, has never been enforced. Many believe the ruling party uses this law as a stick against football clubs and fan groups to control them. In Turkey's past, fan groups frequently took to the streets during protests, particularly the 2013 Gezi demonstrations against Erdogan's government. Until recently, stadiums were among the few places where fans could openly express dissent. However, no chants of dissent have been heard in stadiums since the March arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the presidential candidate of the main opposition CHP party. Fan groups have also been notably absent from the ongoing street protests sparked by Imamoglu's arrest. According to CHP lawmaker Mustafa Adiguzel, this is no accident. He told DW that the ruling AKP seems to have made a deal with the big three, in which they agree to keep their fans groups in line in exchange for the government looking the other way on spending on players. "The government, which uses the auditing of clubs as a reward-and-punishment mechanism, is effectively assigning club management the task of controlling the stands," Adiguzel told DW. According to Ozgen, the government's "stick" not only keeps club executives in line but also pushes fans into self-censorship. He pointed to the mandatory electronic ticketing system Passolig and stadium cameras as tools used to create "politics-free stands." Economist Aksar believes that if the law were applied, many club officials would face legal action, but excessive borrowing is allowed deliberately. "Big clubs are kept indebted to ensure their compliance with the government," he said. The Turkish Ministry of Sports has not yet responded to a DW query on how the clubs have been able to continue borrowing despite the law meant to curb the practice. Ozgen sees the big three as chasing a fantasy of becoming "the Saudi Arabia of Europe," but argues that this is simply unsustainable in the long term. "There's no oil revenue, only debt and bloated wage bills. The gap between income and spending is massive," he said. "Broadcasting revenues are shrinking in real terms, matchday and merchandising income is limited. Clubs spend in dollars or euros but earn in Turkish lira, losing ground with every transfer window." He also points to a key difference between Saudi Arabia and the big three. "Saudi Arabia follows a state-funded strategy," he said. "Turkish clubs have close ties with political power, but they don't have the same financial resources."
