There is a lot of activity on a Tuesday followingnoon in the Soogut market in St. Pölten. Around 16,000 people are allowed to shop at the St. Pölten location, Cornelia S. is one of them. She has only recently become a customer of the social market. The reason for this: the inflation wave. The 37-year-old would have been eligible to buy before, but made ends meet. Now it was tight.
“From electricity to filling up, you won’t be able to afford that any longer. And I only go to work 25 hours because there is no other way with my child. You have to see where you are,” says the single mother. A friend told her regarding the Soogut market, where groceries are two-thirds cheaper than in conventional supermarkets. In the future, she wants to shop here once a week with her 5-year-old daughter.
Soogut-Markt does not pass on price increases
Many people feel the same way as Cornelia S. “We notice that the number of customers is increasing. When the pandemic started, there was a spike. And it has been rising steadily since the start of the inflation wave,” says Ursula Oswald from the Soogut market. The customers are very different: single parents, pensioners, older people without work, but also individual entrepreneurs who did not make it through the pandemic. However, the price surge is not only noticeable in the increasing number of customers, but also in the maintenance costs of the market.
“However, we do not pass these increases on to our customers. The prices stay the same now. It’s hitting them so hard. And so it’s just unacceptable if the groceries get even more expensive here,” says Oswald.
There are a total of ten Soogut markets and two mobile sales vans in Lower Austria. In order to be allowed to shop in a market, one must provide proof of income and proof of registration. The authorization is always valid for one year. The range offered varies greatly. From 7 a.m. the goods are picked up by the cooperating retail outlets. “We don’t know what’s going to happen until the goods are there,” explains Oswald. When the goods arrive at the market, they are checked, sorted and sorted. Most of the work is done by volunteers – who are still always in demand.
poverty in Austria
Like Cornelia S., many customers would have been entitled to make purchases before the rise in prices – but they are only now taking advantage of the opportunity. On the one hand, many do not know that they are already entitled to make a purchase. In Austria, more than one million people fall below the poverty line in terms of income – this is 1,328 euros per month. However, actual poverty also includes other factors. “Poverty is defined by the living situation and the conditions. It’s a combination of low income and few opportunities,” says Martin Schenk from the Poverty Conference. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people in Austria are affected by poverty and exclusion.
Another reason why many people are only now shopping in the social market is shame. “There are many who, although they are allowed to shop, try to make ends meet. Because unfortunately this feeling of shame is still there,” explains Oswald. The customers would make an important contribution. “It’s all very valuable food that would otherwise be thrown away. This is an insane waste. Our customers make a very important and lasting contribution and should actually feel good regarding themselves.” That is also the reason why the decision was made to change the name to Soogut.
Luxury redefined
“I was completely surprised for the first time here. The selection is huge, I didn’t expect that,” Cornelia S. describes her shopping experience. For a 30-euro purchase in normal retail, she only pays 10 euros here. The remaining money should then be used to finance things that don’t exist in the Soogut market.
For the 37-year-old, the definition of luxury has changed over time. “For me, luxury is when I can do something with my child. Where I really put something aside so that we can go swimming at least once. Or to the cinema. Everyday things that you didn’t think regarding before because you just walked away,” she says.
It is important for both Cornelia S. and Ursula Oswald to create awareness that poverty can affect anyone. “Nobody is immune to it, even if it is only temporary. And if you only have one phase, it can happen to anyone,” Oswald said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re young or old,” adds Cornelia S.
