The continuation of more than half of the former Groschen Markt branches in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Brandenburg is secured. This followed negotiations between insolvency administrator Olaf Spiekermann and four investors from the German retail sector. The majority of the locations will continue to operate under new brands and management, while the Groschen Markt brand will be retained in the Thuringian towns of Dingelstädt, Roßleben and Ellrich through the acquisition of the brand rights by Wolfhart Lampe.
For the 22 branches, whose continued operation is now confirmed, the consent of the respective landlords was essential, as the former operating company, DEC Handelsgesellschaft, was merely a tenant of the premises. The negotiations for the continuation of these locations had been described as protracted, partly due to the challenging market environment.
Insolvency administrator Olaf Spiekermann expressed his satisfaction with the retention of 22 branches and approximately 80 jobs. A further takeover is expected for early November. DEC Handelsgesellschaft, which previously operated 41 branches, had filed an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings with the District Court of Mühlhausen in December of the previous year. The ongoing consumer restraint was cited as the background.
The locations now continuing operations are spread across four federal states. In Thuringia, the branches in Dingelstädt, Ellrich, Friedrichroda, Geismar, Ohrdruf, Römhild, Roßleben/Wiehe, Saalfeld/Saale, Schönstedt and Seebach have been secured. In Saxony-Anhalt, this concerns Bad Schmiedeberg, Blankenburg, Dessau-Roßlau, Ilsenburg, Langenbogen and Möser. In Saxony, the locations in Dresden, Frohburg, Meerane and Naunhof will continue under new management. In the federal state of Brandenburg, the branches in Brandenburg/Havel and Sperenberg/Am Mellensee are affected by the positive development.
