Hellweg and BayWa Bau- & Gartenmärkte enter liquidation

The DIY retail chains Hellweg and its subsidiary BayWa Bau- & Gartenmärkte have entered liquidation following insolvency proceedings. The companies filed for self-administered restructuring in Essen in June 2026, citing supply chain bottlenecks, geopolitical uncertainty, declining consumer spending, rising rents, and inflation-driven cost increases as primary factors.

While the Hellweg and BayWa brands will be discontinued, operations are expected to continue under different retailers. The chain Obi has announced plans to integrate up to twelve of the locations into its own network. Investors have reportedly been found for approximately 35 of the more than 110 branches, though these acquisitions remain subject to antitrust approvals and final agreements. If no investors are secured for the remaining locations, those stores may face closure by the end of November.

The insolvency affects the retail branches, which employ thousands of people, though corporate headquarters in Dortmund and Garching had previously announced job cuts for approximately 340 employees. It is noted that while the garden centers share the BayWa name, they have been part of the Hellweg group since 2012 and are distinct from the broader BayWa AG operations.