End of an industry with a history of almost 150 years: The pig slaughterhouse at the Munich slaughterhouse will apparently cease operations on June 30 of this year. The SZ learned this on Monday from the town hall and the administration. According to this, Schweineschlachtung München GmbH, one of two slaughterhouses on the area between Tumblingerstrasse, Zenettistrasse and Thalkirchner Strasse, informed the city that it would stop slaughterhouses at the end of the month. The municipal department, which also manages the slaughterhouse area via the Munich market halls, explained that no information could be given for data protection reasons and referred to the company.
There was no official confirmation there on Monday afternoon, but the information that the end of June would be over was confirmed by an employee of one of the three meat trading companies behind the slaughterhouse. A second area for the cutting of pigs is said to be unaffected by the closure for the time being, it could probably continue to run with goods delivered from outside for the time being.
The second slaughterhouse on the site is independent of pig processing. The company behind it, Münchner Schlachthof Betriebs GmbH, which processes large cattle, especially cattle, still has a lease contract until 2040. The city assumes that this company wants to continue its work.
The fact that the pig slaughterhouse is closing comes as little surprise to insiders. It is said that the company had been struggling with economic problems for years. The city also repeatedly fined the company Schweineschlachtung München GmbH. Sometimes it was about non-compliance with regulations to eliminate odors, sometimes about the discharge of the pollutant toluene into the sewage system. The company is owned in equal parts by three major players in the Munich meat industry: Vinzenz Murr, the meat wholesaler Bauer and MRT Leidmann. All three shareholders could not be reached on Monday afternoon or failed to respond to attempts to contact them. The managing director of the Munich pig slaughterhouse, who was provided by Vinzenz Murr, could not be reached either. It is also unclear where the pigs will be slaughtered in the future.
The history of pig slaughtering in the Isarvorstadt goes back to the years 1876 to 1878, when the slaughterhouse and cattle yard were built on both sides of Zenettistraße. Livestock trade has not existed there for a long time. In the meantime, the new Volkstheater has been built on this area, and the construction of municipal apartments is to follow. In addition to animal processing companies, there are also shops for food and restaurants on the slaughterhouse premises.
When the pig slaughtering ends, the question arises as to how the slaughterhouse will continue as a whole. From the point of view of the largest city council faction, the matter is clear: “In the future, something different should definitely be created,” says Christian Smolka from the Green/Pink List faction. It is likely to result in further projects with affordable urban housing. However, as the planning department makes clear, a development of the area is only possible when the entire slaughterhouse has stopped there. In the meantime, however, Smolka announced that the Greens want to initiate temporary use for the pig slaughtering area. A proposal will soon be submitted to City Council.