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Danger of insolvency at Pieper: Over 1,000 jobs in NRW affected!
The Pieper perfumery from Herne is insolvent. District court ordered insolvency proceedings, affecting over 1,000 jobs.
Danger of insolvency at Pieper: Over 1,000 jobs in NRW affected!
The Pieper perfumery chain from Herne, known for its over 140 branches in Germany, has found itself in a serious situation: on November 20, 2025, preliminary insolvency proceedings under self-administration were ordered. This means that over 1,000 employees in North Rhine-Westphalia are facing uncertain times. How Ruhr24 reports, the employees' salaries are initially secured by insolvency money for three months. Managing director Oliver Pieper emphasized that the restructuring under self-management is intended to keep the company stable and develop it strategically.
But how did this situation come about? The perfumery was founded in 1931 by Gerhard Pieper and his mother Anna in Bochum and is now one of the largest owner-managed perfumery chains in Germany. In the 2021/22 financial year, Pieper achieved net sales of an impressive 113.7 million euros. Despite this number, it remains to be seen whether the current crisis will lead to job cuts or branch closures. These decisions should be made during the course of the procedure.
Normal business operations and customer access
Despite the bankruptcy filing, business operations will continue to operate as normal. Customers can shop both in branches and in the online shop. As well as WDR reports, Pieper is particularly well represented in the Ruhr area and has built up a loyal customer base there.
The insolvency is another example of the increasing number of corporate bankruptcies in Germany. In 2024, a total of 21,812 companies had to file for bankruptcy, an increase of around 22.4% compared to the previous year. Many companies are struggling with the aftermath of crises that have left their mark, both current and past. IFM statistics show that more and more companies that have been on the market for a long time are affected by this development.
It remains exciting to see how Pieper will come out of this challenge. The next few months could be crucial for the future of the company that has left its mark on the German market for decades. What is clear, however, is that those responsible are doing everything they can to get the company back on track.