Menrad: Traditional eyewear company from Gmünd on the brink of extinction!

Menrad: Traditional eyewear company from Gmünd on the brink of extinction!

The renowned eyewear manufacturer Menrad from Schwäbisch Gmünd, founded in 1896 by Ferdinand Menrad, filed for bankruptcy on March 31, 2025. Loud Rem newspaper The insolvency was due to liquidity bottlenecks, persistent low-cost competition and a shortage of skilled workers. Over 115 employees at the headquarters of the company, which also sells brands such as Joop and Bogner, had to fear for their jobs.

The Aalen district court has accepted the application for insolvency and appointed lawyer Florian Zistler as provisional insolvency administrator. Zistler expressed optimism and sees the possibility of restructuring. Thanks to insolvency money, employees' salary payments are secured for three months, which creates relief and hope in the difficult situation.

Closure of headquarters

Despite the positive assessment and the continuation of operations, it was decided to close the location in Schwäbisch Gmünd on May 30, 2025. Over 100 jobs will be affected by this closure and only ten of the 115 employees will be retained, according to the new owner, the Danish Eyewear Group Denmark. Bankruptcy ticker reports that the high operating costs are the main reason for the failure to find investors.

The sale to Eyewear Group Denmark marks a turning point for Menrad. Despite the takeover, former employees have criticized the company's management and strategy, which was heavily focused on cost cutting, following the closure. Many of them had not expected such a development until shortly before the layoffs and felt ignored when the managing directors did not appear in person on the day of the layoffs.

Market development and challenges

The optical industry is under pressure. Sales of glasses have fallen in recent years; In 2023, only 12.18 million glasses were sold compared to 12.8 million in 2021. The number of optical stores in Germany is declining, which further exacerbates the already tense situation for companies like Menrad. Loud Rem newspaper Menrad's company history was heavily influenced by the relocation of production abroad, and the location in Schwäbisch Gmünd remained an important contact point for design and marketing until the end.

The closure of Menrad is one of a series of company closures in the Schwäbisch Gmünd region. This means that not only will a traditional eyewear manufacturer be lost, but also over 100 jobs, which further weighs on the economic prospects in the region.