Overview
- Allianz Trade counted 2,490 retail insolvencies from August 2024 to August 2025, the highest since 2016 and just below the 2015–2016 peak of 2,520.
- DEC Handelsgesellschaft, operator of Groschen-Markt, entered insolvency proceedings with 47 stores remaining open and roughly 200 employees affected.
- The Amtsgericht Mühlhausen appointed Olaf Spiekermann as preliminary administrator, with wages secured via insolvency benefit through February 2026 while restructuring options are reviewed.
- Company statements cite weak consumer demand, higher infrastructure and personnel costs, and a shift toward price-aggressive online platforms as key pressures.
- Experts expect further consolidation even as the pace of failures slows, with EU ministers planning duties on low-value parcels from China in 2026 and many retailers facing heavy up-front tech investment needs.