KiK to close 150 German stores as part of European restructuring

The textile discounter KiK is undergoing a significant restructuring of its retail network, planning to close 150 stores in Germany this year. This is part of a broader European strategy to close approximately 300 locations by the end of 2026. Despite these cuts, the company intends to maintain around 4,000 locations across Europe, with more than 2,200 remaining in Germany.

CEO and CFO Christian Kümmel stated that the company is trimming its portfolio to improve profitability. He noted that previous expansion strategies, which involved opening many new stores in close proximity to one another, did not yield the expected customer growth. The company aims to correct this over-expansion.

KiK has not released a comprehensive list of all affected locations, choosing instead to inform the public only when closures are imminent. Confirmed or reported closures have occurred in various regions, including Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg, and Schleswig-Holstein. Specific locations such as Gunzenhausen and Fürstenberg have been identified as part of the downsizing process.