Hellweg and Baywa Bau & Garten face major closures following insolvency

The insolvency of the Hellweg Group has led to a major restructuring of its hardware store operations, including the Baywa Bau & Garten brand. Of the 114 Hellweg and Baywa markets operating in Germany at the time of the insolvency filing, only 35 locations are expected to continue operations. These include 18 Hellweg markets and 17 Baywa Bau & Garten locations.

Most remaining branches, along with the central offices in Dortmund and Garching, are scheduled to close by the end of November 2026. The closures will impact approximately 340 employees at the headquarters, alongside the existing workforce of roughly 2,900 at Hellweg and 1,300 at Baywa Bau & Garten.

Several investors have been identified to take over specific locations. Obi has been awarded five markets and is the preferred investor for seven others. Bauhaus is set to take over up to seven branches, with plans to retain approximately 400 employees. Additionally, four Hagebau shareholders will take over five locations, employing around 130 people.