rman retailer Tengelmann intends to close 27 of its Kaiser's Tengelmann supermarket stores by the end of the year.The number of store closures comes as somewhat of a surprise, but the move does reflect the company's previously stated intention of focusing on non-food retail and online operations.
All of the 27 store closures are in the North Rhine region of Germany. A spokeswoman for the company confirmed to local media outlets over the past couple of days that the stores "could not work economically".
Talks are due to begin at the end of this week between Tengelmann and the trade union Verdi, who will represent the almost 500 employees who will be affected.
Sales for Kaiser Tengelmann decreased slightly in 2013 to €2.13 billion. The company withdrew from the Rhine-Main area of Germany in 2010, but it still operates the regions of Berlin, Munich and Upper Bavaria.
