Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Hammer, a German retail chain specialising in interior furnishings, has announced the loss of around 1,100 jobs as all its stores are set to close by the end of May 2026.
Hammer filed for insolvency at the beginning of 2026, and no investor has been found. As a result, all branches across Germany will close. Many locations were already shut down in March and April 2026. The remaining 21 stores will close by the end of May. Employees in logistics, administration and skilled trades will also lose their jobs.
The bankruptcy was caused by a decline in renovation demand after COVID‑19, rising inflation, higher energy costs, and increasing competition from discount retailers and online shops. All employment contracts were terminated at the end of April.
The retail chain Hammer was founded in 1976 in Porta Westfalica, North Rhine‑Westphalia.
Eurofound (2026), Hammer, Bankruptcy in Germany, factsheet number 300441, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/300441.