Globus is playing 16 real markets

In the Free State, the group has hypermarkets in Leipzig-Seehausen, Zwickau and Chemnitz, as well as a hardware store in Dresden and is represented by two divisions of the group in Hoyerswerda, Leipzig-Wachau and Weischlitz in Vogtland. A total of 2,200 people work at the ten addresses.

“We have shown that we can handle turbulent times well and even emerge stronger than before,” says Matthias Bruch, managing partner of Globus Holding. “Many developments, especially in the digital area, have undergone tremendous acceleration thanks to Corona, so that we have been able to take important development steps,” said Bruch, who had taken over the position of boss from his father in the summer. .

As a result, hypermarkets in Germany remained at the level of the previous year with slight sales growth, while specialty stores increased by a full five percent. In Russia, Globus hypermarkets even recorded a 10% increase, equal to 1.3 billion euros. The activity of these giant markets in the Czech Republic remained stable at a good one billion euros.

Modernization is underway in Hoyerswerda

Globus a winner of the crisis? “We do not see ourselves as the winners of the crisis, but we have been and will do justice to our supply mandate in difficult times,” says Jochen Baab. The spokesperson for the management of the hypermarket division recalls that “some of our restaurants have been closed for weeks, in some cases even our non-food areas”.

This was offset by fast and flexible action, innovative concepts and digital offerings. And through employees, around half of whom in Germany are silent partners across the company or at their own location. They would receive a second Corona award in November, it is said. In total, there are eleven million euros of special payments.

Big Globus family:

The nearly 200-year-old family business has invested a whopping 390 million euros in its growth, opened the 47th hypermarket in Halle, and there are also new addresses in the Czech Republic and Russia. The older locations would be modernized. Timo Huwer, head of the specialty shops division, also mentions Hoyerswerda, where since the mid-1990s there has been a home improvement store and a grocery store next to each other.

“Goethe” should help with the expansion. The project name has no “deeper meaning,” they say. The content: “We want to acquire over 16 real-world stores, spread across several federal states,” says Stefan Ewerling, head of expansion and location planning. Due to ongoing discussions, he was unable to provide any specific information.

In the spring, the Metro group had sold its troubled son with nearly 280 stores to Russian financial investor SCP. Kaufland is interested in 101 of these Real stores and 72 Edeka, the largest German grocer with an annual turnover of € 55.7 billion. Due to their superiority, Globus expects good chances with the competition watchdogs. By the turn of the millennium, the group had already secured positions from the insolvent hardware chain Max Bahr.

The decision is pending. Riesa, Heidenau and Bannewitz will also have to wait to see if they win the Edeka or Kaufland contract. Or at least Globus and competitors, who can sue as interveners in the proceedings. “Each branch is a separate case in terms of competition law,” Kay Weidner, spokesperson for the Federal Cartel Office, tells SZ. In mid-September, the Federal Cartel Office set an exam deadline of December 21 for its in-depth review.

Secret of the Dresden building plans

“The Globus Group constantly focuses on further developing and maintaining the value of existing locations, as well as developing new markets,” says Globus. No information is given on the engagement in Saxony.

And what about the plans for Dresden, where the group has been planning for years to build a hypermarket not far from the Neustadt train station but has been thwarted by the city council? “Globus is still negotiating with the city of Dresden an alternative location to the ownership of Alter Leipziger Bahnhof,” says Ewerling, head of the expansion. However, until a result was available, it was agreed not to disclose it.

Uwe Wamser, chief executive of the hypermarkets, does not expect a new block, but with growing infections with regional consequences. Simultaneously with the presentation of Globus, the Institute for Trade Research (IFH) in Cologne reported that there has been a renewed increase in hamster purchases, particularly evident in the spring of toilet paper.

A third of respondents last week said they wanted to buy more durable food again and 26% bought hygiene items.