Backhaus Witten is closing after 33 years – who will take over the branches?

Backhaus Witten is closing after 33 years – who will take over the branches?

This time there is sad news in the bakery landscape of North Rhine-Westphalia: the traditional Witten bakery is closing its doors after 33 years. The owner Iris Graßhoff (61) and her son Felix have decided to sell all seven branches in Witten, Bochum and Wuppertal. The decision came due to the necessary changes that should be brought about for the company during this upheaval. Ruhr24 reports that from July CityBäcker GmbH from Dortmund will take over the majority of the branches.

The new owners, Hannah Rahenbrock, Lena Blank and her mother Ute Rahenbrock, bring a lot of experience in the industry. They are taking over four branches in Witten - on Dortmunder Straße, Bahnhofstraße, Meesmannstraße in Herbede and Hellweg in Heven - as well as two stores in Bochum. First and foremost, the tried and tested baked goods will be continued, with the popular “Fire Bread” also being added to the range in Bochum. The Wuppertal branch, on the other hand, is taken over by Peter Backwaren OHG from Essen and the branch on Witten's Ruhrstrasse closes due to an expired rental agreement.

Job security for the workforce

What is particularly positive is that the bakery's 140 employees can keep their jobs. They receive their employment contracts under the same conditions, which is a welcome relief for many. The workforce was informed about the upcoming change of ownership on Corpus Christi holiday.

The bakery has been an integral part of the regional bakery landscape since 1992. During this time, an impressive 23 million rolls were sold and more than nine million customers were welcomed. In addition to the classic baking business, the bakery also organized events and special campaigns. She was happy to enrich the region with a variety of commitments. The bakery was also innovative with the introduction of the region's first drive-in counter, as well as the so-called "men's parking spaces", which were launched in 2016.

Another loss for the bakery tradition

But it's not just the Witten bakery that is facing closure: another traditional bakery, the Mauel bakery from Meckenheim, is also closing its doors after more than 140 years. Mauel is particularly well-known in Cologne, with branches on Rudolfplatz and Rheinauhafen. Managing director Peter Mauel announced that health reasons led to the closure of the business. Fortunately, a buyer was found for the approximately 25 branches: “Schäfer Dein Bäcker”, a renowned family business based in Limburg, will continue to operate the branches under a new name and will take on 160 employees. Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports.

These closures make the challenges for the bakery stand clear: traditional companies have to find their way in a changing market and are struggling with significant changes. A look at the statistics shows that bakers' guilds in Germany are under pressure and it is important to strengthen cohesion within the industry. The Central Association of German Bakers' Guilds highlights how important cohesion is for the future of bakeries.

The closures of so many traditional bakeries awaken thoughtful feelings about the future of the craft, which not only stands for delicious baked goods, but also brings with it a great tradition. What happens next with these companies remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the love for fresh bread and pastries is unbroken.