Local suppliers are missing

“No retailer can survive on this in any town”

Many communities no longer have a grocery store.

(Bild: Reinhardt Judt)

While young people are mobile and not tied to their home town when shopping, older people are often dependent on their local grocer. But in Burgenland in particular, many communities no longer have them - and not just in small towns.

The municipality of Hirm in the district of Mattersburg has just over 1000 inhabitants. The local convenience store has been closed for around a year, as the operator had reached retirement age. Since then, the search has been on for a successor. But without success. "Because there's simply no one," says Mayor Christian Wöhl. He assumes that running a branch in the small town is obviously not worthwhile.