Nevertheless, the supermarket chain is now actually closing seven branches. Really to be sold to a group of investors. Further closings are imminent.
The supermarket chain real decided to close seven branches before it was finally sold to an investor consortium. Around 650 employees are affected by the plans, said a real spokesman. Discussions about social plans would be started.
Four of the stores are expected to close by the end of the year, and three branches in the coming year. There are also another 270 or so stores that have not yet been made public. A total of around 34,000 jobs are in use at real.
Guarantee for two years for 50 markets
The supermarket chain is to be taken over by the investors SCP Group and X + Bricks. The previous parent company Metro sealed the purchase agreement in February. SCP wants to effectively break up the chain of wholesale supermarkets that have grown together from previous brands such as Divi, Suma, Wertkauf and Allkauf. The competition authorities still have to approve the transaction, so that investors have a free hand.
SCP had announced that it would sell the majority of its branches. According to the company, a core of around 50 markets will continue to operate for two years.
Union: 10,000 jobs threatened
The union ver.di warned once again that the jobs of around 10,000 employees are threatened. Politicians must therefore intervene, warned Stefanie Nutzberger, who is responsible for trade on the ver.di federal executive board. The union fears that the 50 markets that investors want to continue to operate will ultimately also be sold, said Federal Department Head Retail, Orhan Akman.
Ver.di is committed to negotiating social collective agreements. The first contact person is real, future owners are likely to follow. Strikes are only a last resort.
