Insolvency at Hammer: Customers in Prenzlau and Pasewalk affected!

Insolvency at Hammer: Customers in Prenzlau and Pasewalk affected!

Prenzlau, Deutschland - In the Uckermark, the announcement of Brüder Schlauz GmbH & Co KG ensures conversation: The parent company of the popular specialist markets "Hammer" and "Schlau" has announced bankruptcy in self -administration. This was public on June 28, 2025 and the competent district court has already started the insolvency proceedings, as the SVZ

Sven Krüger, franchise partner of the hammer markets in Prenzlau and Pasewalk, was not surprised by the bankruptcy. Already at the end of 2024 24 markets had to close and many employees were released. In Prenzlau, the rental agreement for the market, which comprises an area of ​​2200 square meters, also stands on the brink: the termination was pronounced on September 30, 2025.

challenges for retail

Retail is under pressure - sales development is declining. Large chains are increasingly focusing on metropolitan areas and at the same time fight against the competition from the Internet. Krüger also notices a reversal trend in the sales ratio: In the past it was 70 % cash turnover, now 70 % order sales dominate. Despite these difficulties, he does not give up: he plans to continue the specialist markets in Prenzlau and Pasewalk as an independent managing director, regardless of "hammer".

The significant changes in the location concept cannot be overlooked either. Krüger notes that the current location in Prenzlau is no longer up to date and that the trend towards smaller specialist markets is. Negotiations on the division of the sales area in Prenzlau to create two separate markets are slow. For all ongoing orders, he wants to continue to fulfill his obligations to the suppliers.

the look ahead

A clearance sale in the Hammer specialist market in Prenzlau begins on June 30th. In addition, Krüger is looking for a new location in the Uckermark district town to maintain customers. At the Pasewalk location, where everything seems stable, nothing should change for the time being - here the economic basis is to be rated as stable.

The current developments are part of a larger wave in retail, which is not only shown in Brandenburg. According to Statista there were in 2023 in Germany approx. 110,200 insolvencies, which corresponds to 31,000 less than in 2013. Service companies were particularly affected, 59 % of which had to register bankruptcy. This situation also calls for jobs: The Brüder Gradu, Sklrup group, plans to separate the brands hammer and smartly, which will probably lead to a breakdown of workers. Concrete figures have not yet been published, but social security for affected employees has been developed in the further locations.

For Krüger and his markets, there is hope for a seamless opening of the new business at the latest on October 1, in order to continue to support customers with products. The situation now requires a lot of skill and staying power. These are times when every euro counts, and every market shows its customer base that it can be a reliable partner even in difficult times.