The global supply chain chaos is now also affecting Germany’s smokers!
Tilt alarm: wholesalers are complaining about bottlenecks in the Marlboro Red and Gold brands. Cyryl Ratz (42), Sales Manager Tabakwaren Dietz, to BILD: “We are clearly feeling the shortage, the customers are at a disadvantage.”
Reason: There is no paper for the boxes (among other things comes from the Ukraine). Manufacturer Philip Morris (including Marlboro, L&M) shut down its plant in Kharkiv/Eastern Ukraine because of the war, responding to BILD’s request with the following information: “Due to the tense situation on the global raw materials markets and the shortage of cardboard, bottlenecks can actually occur.”
This applies to “individual packaging sizes”. A spokeswoman for the wholesale company Lekkerland spoke of “delivery problems for certain packaging units”.
According to wholesalers, the box sizes with 22 and 29 cigarettes of the Red and Gold varieties, which would be sold for 8 and 10 euros respectively, are affected. Particularly tight: automatic tipping! Ratz: “Marlboros are already sold out at many machines.”
“We are continuously adjusting our supply chains,” said a Philip Morris spokesman.