Latest news with #Birtat
Local Germany
09-08-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Doner delight: German kebab workers savour historic pay deal
Workers at the factory run by the Birtat company -- one of Germany's biggest in the sector, supplying some 13 million businesses a month -- had been pushing for improved salaries and had staged several walkouts. 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. READ ALSO: 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. Advertisement 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.
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Doner delight: German kebab workers savour historic pay deal
Doner kebab meat workers in Germany were Friday savouring the industry's first ever union-backed pay deal that ended a long dispute at a major supplier of the hugely popular snack. Workers at the factory run by the Birtat company -- one of Germany's biggest in the sector, supplying some 13 million businesses a month -- had been pushing for improved salaries and had staged several walkouts. 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. 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. The agreement sets the starting monthly salary at 2,600 euros ($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. sr/jsk/gv
Euronews
07-08-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Germans in a wrap over döner prices as worker strikes turn up the heat
Germans are in kebab angst. They worry that their most beloved street food—the spicy, juicy kebab in a pita—found on every street corner across Germany, may get more expensive, or even worse, that the country may be sliding into a national kebab shortage. Even if these fears may sound exaggerated at first, they aren't unfounded. Workers at one of Germany's biggest kebab factories are locked in a bitter and ongoing fight with their employer over wages and working conditions. For weeks, workers at the Birtat Meat World SE factory in southwestern Germany have repeatedly stopped the production line by walking out in "warning strikes,' demanding wage increases of €375 per month. Their current salaries vary widely, and haven't been disclosed. The Food, Beverages and Catering Union that represents them says that payment methods are non-transparent and workers are making vastly different salaries for the same kind of job, according to German news agency dpa. Workers are also trying to organise a collective contract agreement for all employees with the help of the union. Immigrant workers Many workers are immigrants from Turkey, Romania or Bulgaria. They spend long, tough workdays in the factory, which has near freezing temperatures to keep the raw meat fresh. On Wednesday, many workers walked off their jobs again, waving flags in front of the factory's main gate, playing drums, whistling and shouting for higher salaries and unionised contracts. German media have reported that Birtat hasn't yielded to any of the demands so far. The company didn't immediately respond to requests for an interview. Millions of consumers each month Birtat, which is located in Murr, 30 kilometres north of Stuttgart, has been making kebab skewers for more than 30 years. The company says on its website that it makes kebab skewers of ground beef, veal, chicken or turkey that can weigh up to 120 kilograms. The workers chop up the meat, marinate it and push chunks of the raw produce on long metal skewers. The meat is then shock-frozen and delivered to restaurants all over the country. Birtat says it supplies thousands of kebab stands and fast food places and reaches more than 13 million consumers every month. Some restaurant owners worry that should the workers decide to go on a long-term strike, the Germans' favorite fast-food snack may indeed become more expensive or even scarce. Rising prices Germans already complain that the meaty snack, which used to be a cheap staple that sold for €2.50 about two decades ago, has become too expensive, with most places charging at least €7 or more. Halil Duman was pondering the state of the kebab business as he was busy slicing off thin pieces of ground beef at Pergamon Döner, a small eatery at Berlin's Friedrichstrasse train station where people were lining up for lunch. 'It's all getting more and more difficult," the 68-year-old Turkish immigrant said. "The produce is becoming more expensive and we barely make profit anymore.' 'But if we raise the prices any further, people won't buy here anymore,' said Duman, who has been working at kebab stores in the German capital for more than 30 years and was selling the classic kebab sandwich for €7.50. History of the kebab in Germany Germans have long been fond of the kebab sandwich, called a döner in Germany. The word comes from the Turkish verb 'donmek,' meaning to turn as the meat is grilled for hours on a spit and cut off in razor-thin slices when it's crisp and brown. First brought to Berlin by Turkish immigrants in the 1970s, the grilled meat snack, which comes wrapped in pita bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions and different dressings, is now sold all across Germany, from the Baltic Sea to the Bavarian Alps. According to legend, it was Mahmut Aygun, a Turkish guest worker, who invented the first döner sandwich in 1971, when he sold the meat in a piece of pita bread with yogurt dressing at a stand close to a main train station by the zoo in West Berlin. About 2.9 million people with Turkish roots live in Germany, but the döner kebab sandwich has become so ubiquitous in the country that many foreign tourists consider it typically German and don't even know about the snack's immigrant past. Nele Langfeld, a 22-year-old university student, had come to Pergamon Döner as she was craving comfort food, having just finished an exam. Waiting in line for her turn, she said that while she hadn't heard about the labour dispute at Birtat, she sure didn't like the prospect of a possible döner shortage or higher prices. 'I live on a budget and that's the last thing I need,' she said. 'Döner is the one affordable meal that really fills your stomach — it should stay that way.'
07-08-2025
- Business
Germans worry their beloved kebab may get more pricy or even scarce because of factory strike
BERLIN -- Germans are in kebab angst. They worry that their most beloved street food option, the spicy, juicy kebab in a pita that can be found on every street corner across Germany, may get more expensive — or even worse, that the country may be sliding into a national kebab shortage. Even if these fears may sound exaggerated at first, they aren't unfounded. Workers at one of Germany's biggest kebab factories are locked in a bitter and ongoing fight with their employer over wages and working conditions. For weeks, workers at the Birtat Meat World SE factory in southwestern Germany have repeatedly stopped the production line by walking off their jobs in "warning strikes,' demanding wage increases of 375 euros ($434) per month. Their current salaries vary widely, and haven't been disclosed. The Food, Beverages and Catering Union that represents them says that payment methods are nontransparent and workers are making vastly different salaries for the same kind of job, according to German news agency dpa. Workers are also trying to organize a collective contract agreement for all employees with the help of the union. Many workers are immigrants from Turkey, Romania or Bulgaria, who spend long, tough workdays in the factory, which has near freezing temperatures to keep the raw meat fresh. On Wednesday, many workers walked off their jobs again, waving flags in front of the factory's main gate, playing drums, whistling and shouting for higher salaries and unionized contracts. German media have reported that Birtat hasn't yielded to any of the demands so far. The company didn't immediately respond to requests for an interview. Birtat, which is located in Murr, 30 kilometers (nearly 20 miles) north of Stuttgart, has been making kebab skewers for more than 30 years. The company says on its website that it makes skewers of ground beef, veal, chicken or turkey kebab that can weigh up to 120 kilograms (260 pounds). The workers chop up the meat, marinate it and push chunks of the raw produce on long metal skewers. The meat is then shock-frozen and and delivered to restaurants all over the country. Birtat says it supplies thousands of kebab stands and fast food places and reaches more than 13 million consumers every month. Some restaurant owners worry that should the workers decide to go on a long-term strike, the Germans' favorite fast-food snack may indeed become more expensive or even scarce. Germans already complain that the meaty snack, which used to be a cheap staple that sold for 2.50 euros about two decades ago, has become too expensive, with most places charging at least 7 euros ($8) or more. Halil Duman was pondering the state of the kebab business as he was busy slicing off thin pieces of ground beef at Pergamon Döner, a small eatery at Berlin's Friedrichstrasse train station where people were lining up for lunch. 'It's all getting more and more difficult," the 68-year-old Turkish immigrant said. "The produce is becoming more expensive and we barely make profit anymore.' 'But if we raise the prices any further, people won't buy here anymore,' said Duman, who has been working at kebab stores in the German capital for more than 30 years and was selling the classic kebab sandwich for 7.50 euros (around $8.70). Germans have long fancied the kebab sandwich, which is called a döner in Germany. The word comes from the Turkish verb 'donmek,' meaning to turn — the meat is grilled for hours on a spit and cut off in razor-thin slices when it's crisp and brown. First brought to Berlin by Turkish immigrants in the 1970s, the grilled meat snack, which comes wrapped in pita bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions and different dressings, is now sold everywhere in Germany, from regions stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Bavarian Alps. According to legend, it was Mahmut Aygun, a Turkish guest worker, who invented the first döner sandwich in 1971, when he sold the meat in a piece of pita bread with yogurt dressing at a stand close to a main train station next to the zoo in West Berlin. About 2.9 million people with Turkish roots live in Germany — but the döner kebab sandwich has become so ubiquitous in the country that many foreign tourists consider it typically German and don't even know about the snack's immigrant past. Nele Langfeld, a 22-year-old university student, had come to Pergamon Döner because she was craving the yummy comfort food after having just finished an exam. Waiting in line for her turn, she said that while she hadn't heard about the labor dispute at Birtat, she sure didn't like the prospect of a possible döner shortage or higher prices. 'I live on a budget and that's the last thing I need,' she said. 'Döner is the one affordable meal that really fills your stomach — it should stay that way.'
The Hill
07-08-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Germans worry their beloved kebab may get more pricy or even scarce because of factory strike
BERLIN (AP) — Germans are in kebab angst. They worry that their most beloved street food option, the spicy, juicy kebab in a pita that can be found on every street corner across Germany, may get more expensive — or even worse, that the country may be sliding into a national kebab shortage. Even if these fears may sound exaggerated at first, they aren't unfounded. Workers at one of Germany's biggest kebab factories are locked in a bitter and ongoing fight with their employer over wages and working conditions. For weeks, workers at the Birtat Meat World SE factory in southwestern Germany have repeatedly stopped the production line by walking off their jobs in 'warning strikes,' demanding wage increases of 375 euros ($434) per month. Their current salaries vary widely, and haven't been disclosed. The Food, Beverages and Catering Union that represents them says that payment methods are nontransparent and workers are making vastly different salaries for the same kind of job, according to German news agency dpa. Workers are also trying to organize a collective contract agreement for all employees with the help of the union. Immigrant workers Many workers are immigrants from Turkey, Romania or Bulgaria, who spend long, tough workdays in the factory, which has near freezing temperatures to keep the raw meat fresh. On Wednesday, many workers walked off their jobs again, waving flags in front of the factory's main gate, playing drums, whistling and shouting for higher salaries and unionized contracts. German media have reported that Birtat hasn't yielded to any of the demands so far. The company didn't immediately respond to requests for an interview. Millions of consumers each month Birtat, which is located in Murr, 30 kilometers (nearly 20 miles) north of Stuttgart, has been making kebab skewers for more than 30 years. The company says on its website that it makes skewers of ground beef, veal, chicken or turkey kebab that can weigh up to 120 kilograms (260 pounds). The workers chop up the meat, marinate it and push chunks of the raw produce on long metal skewers. The meat is then shock-frozen and and delivered to restaurants all over the country. Birtat says it supplies thousands of kebab stands and fast food places and reaches more than 13 million consumers every month. Some restaurant owners worry that should the workers decide to go on a long-term strike, the Germans' favorite fast-food snack may indeed become more expensive or even scarce. Rising prices Germans already complain that the meaty snack, which used to be a cheap staple that sold for 2.50 euros about two decades ago, has become too expensive, with most places charging at least 7 euros ($8) or more. Halil Duman was pondering the state of the kebab business as he was busy slicing off thin pieces of ground beef at Pergamon Döner, a small eatery at Berlin's Friedrichstrasse train station where people were lining up for lunch. 'It's all getting more and more difficult,' the 68-year-old Turkish immigrant said. 'The produce is becoming more expensive and we barely make profit anymore.' 'But if we raise the prices any further, people won't buy here anymore,' said Duman, who has been working at kebab stores in the German capital for more than 30 years and was selling the classic kebab sandwich for 7.50 euros (around $8.70). History of the kebab in Germany Germans have long fancied the kebab sandwich, which is called a döner in Germany. The word comes from the Turkish verb 'donmek,' meaning to turn — the meat is grilled for hours on a spit and cut off in razor-thin slices when it's crisp and brown. First brought to Berlin by Turkish immigrants in the 1970s, the grilled meat snack, which comes wrapped in pita bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions and different dressings, is now sold everywhere in Germany, from regions stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Bavarian Alps. According to legend, it was Mahmut Aygun, a Turkish guest worker, who invented the first döner sandwich in 1971, when he sold the meat in a piece of pita bread with yogurt dressing at a stand close to a main train station next to the zoo in West Berlin. About 2.9 million people with Turkish roots live in Germany — but the döner kebab sandwich has become so ubiquitous in the country that many foreign tourists consider it typically German and don't even know about the snack's immigrant past. Nele Langfeld, a 22-year-old university student, had come to Pergamon Döner because she was craving the yummy comfort food after having just finished an exam. Waiting in line for her turn, she said that while she hadn't heard about the labor dispute at Birtat, she sure didn't like the prospect of a possible döner shortage or higher prices. 'I live on a budget and that's the last thing I need,' she said. 'Döner is the one affordable meal that really fills your stomach — it should stay that way.'
