Frankfurt, Dec. 19 - Three major German coffee producers, Jacobs Kroenung, HAG and Onko, owned by Kraft Foods Inc and competitor Melitta Group have confirmed to Die Welt that they raised wholesale prices some 5% to 8% at the beginning of the week, the newspaper will report Thursday.
According to the newspaper, the makers say they have been hit by higher energy, transport and raw coffee prices.
Head of the German coffee union Holger Preibisch tells the newspaper: "In light of significant increases in raw material and energy costs, a substantial price increase for the end-consumer is unavoidable."
The newspaper notes coffee is the most popular drink in Germany, beating beer and water, with Germans drinking on average 146 liters a person annually.