Schuh Graf in bankruptcy: branches remain open, employees secured!

Schuh Graf in bankruptcy: branches remain open, employees secured!

The Baden-Württemberg family business Schuh Graf filed for self-administration insolvency proceedings on June 3, 2025. This decision was approved by the Stuttgart District Court in order to initiate a restructuring of the company. With around 160 employees and 27 branches, most of which operate in Baden-Württemberg under the brands “Schuh-Mann” and “QUICK SCHUH”, Schuh Graf is one of the best-known shoe retail chains in the region. Ruhr24 reports that despite the bankruptcy, all shops remain open and customers can shop as usual.

The company's financial problems are manifold. Managing director Götz M. Graf attributes the crisis to a combination of consumer restraint, inflationary pressure and intense competition from online retailers. High operating costs place additional strain on the budget. The management is nevertheless optimistic and plans to work with an interdisciplinary team of restructuring specialists to develop a viable continuation concept that takes all economic parameters into account.

Self-administered restructuring proceedings

The envisaged self-administered restructuring process allows Schuh Graf to retain control over the restructuring process itself. The management receives support from restructuring expert Steffen Beck from the law firm Pluta, who is leading the restructuring process. The employees' salaries are covered for the next three months by insolvency money paid by the Federal Employment Agency. This gives employees security in an already tense situation.

The 27 affected branches include locations in cities such as Stuttgart, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Pforzheim and Freudenstadt. The positive response from customers shows that Schuh Graf is still an integral part of the regional retail landscape. Kosmo emphasizes that the branches continue to operate without restrictions in sales, despite the serious circumstances the company is suffering from.

Schuh Graf's bankruptcy is part of a larger trend that has resulted in numerous bankruptcies in the shoe industry in recent years. Given these developments, it remains to be seen how the brand and its employees will overcome this challenge and whether the company will get the hang of it to compete in an increasingly digital market. The optimism of the management and the willingness to work with experts could be decisive factors for the future stability of Schuh Graf.