Hellweg and BayWa Bau- & Garten-Märkte enter insolvency proceedings

The hardware retail chain Hellweg and its subsidiary BayWa Bau- & Garten-Märkte are undergoing insolvency proceedings in self-administration. The restructuring process is expected to result in the dissolution of the Hellweg brand, as no single investor has stepped forward to acquire the company in its entirety.

Major competitors, including Bauhaus, Obi, Hornbach, Globus Baumarkt, and Hagebau partners, have submitted bids for various individual locations within the network. While many stores are expected to remain open under new ownership, the future of many sites remains uncertain. The insolvency affects approximately 4,200 jobs across Germany.

In Austria, the impact is more immediate, with two Hellweg branches in Raaba and Fürstenfeld facing permanent closure. The inventory from these locations is being liquidated through public auctions.

Broader economic data from Creditreform and the Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) indicates a rising trend of business closures in Germany. In 2025, the number of companies ceasing operations reached its highest level in 20 years, affecting both large chains and a significant number of small to medium-sized enterprises.