Hellweg DIY group faces mass closures amid insolvency

The Hellweg DIY group and its subsidiary BayWa Bau & Garten are undergoing significant restructuring following insolvency proceedings initiated in June 2026. The group is facing widespread store closures across Germany and Austria, affecting thousands of employees.

In Germany, competitors are acquiring several locations. Obi has committed to taking over up to 12 stores, while Bauhaus has announced plans to acquire multiple sites, including locations in Essen and Dortmund, with the intention of retaining staff. However, many locations, including four stores in the Rhineland region (Mettmann, Monheim, Sankt Augustin, and Bonn), have no confirmed buyers and face permanent closure.

In Austria, the situation is similarly critical. An application has been filed for the judicial closure of four remaining Hellweg locations in Ried im Innkreis, Graz-Eggenberg, Straßwalchen, and Kirchdorf an der Krems. While approximately 116 employees are affected, negotiations with a potential investor are ongoing to attempt to preserve these sites and their jobs.