HAMBURG, Germany -- Just as in the United States, immigration has become a contentious issue in Germany over the past year.
Edeka, the largest German supermarket chain, recently removed all foreign-made products from the shelves of one of its stores in Hamburg to make point about rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
"So empty is a shelf without foreigners"- German supermarket supporting #SayNoToRacism pic.twitter.com/9VTVMtUaei
— Kirsty Hatton (@hatton_kirsty) August 24, 2017
"This shelf is pretty boring without diversity" and "so empty is a shelf without any foreigners" read signs placed on the nearly empty shelves.
A supermarket representative told the BBC that the store had gotten many positive responses online from their stunt.
"Edeka stands for variety and diversity. In our stores we sell numerous foods which are produced in the various regions of Germany. But only together with products from other countries is it possible to create the unique variety that our consumers value," the representative said.
German politicians had mixed responses. The BBC reports a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party called it a "wise move" to point out what foreigners add to Germany's economy.
A member of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, Marcus Pretzell, took an opposing standpoint when asked by the BBC, saying "Why exactly should it be wise? Is it not mad?"
Edeka in Hamburger Hafencity macht Aktion gegen Rassismus. #saynotoracism pic.twitter.com/S3puFdn62g
— Sven (@opendev) August 19, 2017
