Expert bankruptcy: shock for francs! Four locations are on the brink!

Expert bankruptcy: shock for francs! Four locations are on the brink!

In the last few weeks, the economic situation of the German electronics retail sector has taken some shocking turns. On July 16, 2025, expert Franken GmbH and expert Mainfranken GmbH filed for bankruptcy. This step specifically affects four locations in Franconia, including the cities of Schweinfurt, Bad Kissingen, Forchheim and Fürth. The insolvency was filed with the Schweinfurt District Court and only affects the markets mentioned, as they are legally independent member companies of the expert group. [Merkur].

Around 30 employees in Fürth are directly affected by the bankruptcy. Despite this sad news, there is hope: the owner family and the expert headquarters are doing everything they can to continue operating the locations under the expert brand. The markets will most likely continue to exist under the supervision of a provisional insolvency administrator. All branches currently remain open, but the long-term future is up in the air. Fürth's economics officer Horst Müller expressed particular concerns about the possible effects of closing the Fürth location, as this could lead to noticeable vacancies in the “Flair” shopping center.

The situation in detail

The affected markets have an interesting history. The branch in Fürth covers around 1,600 square meters of sales space and has been part of the “Flair” shopping center since March 2022. Those responsible on site are already thinking about alternatives and are developing initial ideas for the future should it come to a final end. While the situation remains tense, one thing is clear: this bankruptcy only affects the four locations mentioned.

In Germany as a whole, the number of corporate bankruptcies rose to around 17,814 in 2023, which represents an increase compared to the previous year. Sectors in the service sector are particularly affected. A look at the Statista figures also shows that North Rhine-Westphalia has the most insolvencies, followed by Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Overall, it is estimated that around 320,000 jobs could be lost due to insolvent companies in 2024.

Future outlook and challenges

The expert group, with its decentralized structure, enables the individual markets to operate as legally independent companies, which in this case is both a blessing and a curse. While insolvency poses an immediate threat to the four affected locations, the question remains as to how the group's remaining markets will develop. The owning family is optimistic that with a good hand and the right decisions, the branches can get back on their feet.

The situation in the electronics industry remains tense, and expert's bankruptcy could be just the beginning of further challenges for companies in this sector. With tightening economic conditions and changing buyer behavior, it will be exciting for many companies, not just expert, to see which strategies will work to bring customers back into business.