Menrad closes in Schwäbisch Gmünd: 100 jobs affected!

Menrad closes in Schwäbisch Gmünd: 100 jobs affected!

Schwäbisch Gmünd, Deutschland - In Schwäbisch Gmünd, the closure of the traditional glasses manufacturers Menrad ensures excitement and great concern. Around 100 employees now have to look for a new job after the company filed for bankruptcy on March 31, 2025. This decision was made just a few weeks before the final closure, which was perceived as shocking and unexpected. According to gmuender-täspost.de, the employees were surprisingly given notice, many of them with immediate Effect.

The company has been in the eyewear business since 1896 and is led in the fourth generation of family. But the past few years has been shaped by liquidity problems and a declining order situation, which finally led to bankruptcy. Not only are around 100 employees in Schwäbisch Gmünd, but a total of around 115 employees in Germany and over 250 worldwide. However, salaries for the months of March, April and May are secured by bankruptcy money, since the district court of Aalen Florian Zistler from the Pluta law firm has employed as a provisional insolvency administrator. This information confirms the reports from [merkur.de] (https://www.merkur.de/wirtschaft/deutsches-familienunternehmen-insolvenz-an--115-mit employee- 93662146.html).

emotional reactions and economic effects

The emotional reactions of the employees are unmistakable. A long -time employee expressed hope for potential investors who might still be able to bring about a change. But the assessments seem rather pessimistic. Mayor Richard Arnold described the closure as a sign of deeper weaknesses in the German economy and led the lack of investments and poorly top technologies. This picture is complemented by the economic representative Alexander Groll, who described the closure as a severe blow for the city of Gmünd. The 130-year company history ends in a surprising economic disaster.

The uncertainty about the future use of the location remains. The city administration now faces the challenge of finding solutions that can close the gap that leaves Menrad.

A look at the current insolvency trends

Menrad is not the only company affected by bankruptcy. In 2024, a total of 21,812 corporate insolvencies were recorded in Germany, which represents an increase of 22.4 % compared to the previous year. This increase caused by economic crises and declining business figures shows how serious the situation of many companies has become. Although bankruptcies are part of the company closures, it should not be forgotten that they still represent a comparatively rare form. According to ifm-bonn.org, around 6 % of all company closures could have been attributed to bankruptcy.

The developments around Menrad are regrettable and cloud the future prospects of many employees in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The hope of new investments could bring about a positive turn, but the reality is that the city faces challenging times.