Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann doesn't know much about shopping - even if it's just a few groceries in the supermarket.

The Greens politician told the German Press Agency that he had been to a large supermarket twice in his town of Sigmaringen and was overwhelmed by all the coffee varieties alone. "I didn't know what to do in such a consumer temple."

Kretschmann only has one passion when it comes to shopping: visiting the hardware store regularly. "I know my way around the hardware store," he said. The 74-year-old is a passionate craftsman; last year he made a large wooden bench for his own living room.

However, in his opinion, the shopping experience for craftsmen is no longer what it used to be. "It was nicer when there were specialty shops," he said. "It was worth its weight in gold. There were people who had a clue and could give advice. Real craftsmen who understood that. That's a murderous loss."

The head of government is also bothered by the quality of the wood. "The boards in the hardware store are just junk. You only get this stuff with these sticks that are glued together." You have to drive a long way to find another sawmill where you can find good boards.