“The goal is that we can do this without going bankrupt,” said restructuring specialist Rainer Schrems, who has taken over the liquidation. Both chains were sold to a private individual close to the restructuring professional, according to the “Standard” newspaper.
The employees have already been registered with the Public Employment Service (AMS) for termination. Efforts are being made to accommodate as many people as possible; thousands of employees are currently being sought in the retail sector. The rental contracts of the stores mainly in the Vienna area and in the provincial capitals must now be terminated. The big sale will start on July 10, 2023.
The restructuring course had already begun in the previous year. Salamander CEO Jens Peter Klatt said, “The Ara Group has fully separated from the retail activities around Salamander Austria and Delka.” Salamander had also sold all its activities in Hungary. The businesses in Slovakia and the Czech Republic had also recently been discontinued, he said.
Salamander had been part of the ara Group since 2009, and Delka since 2011. Delka had 35 stores at the time of the takeover from Bawag.
