Insolvencies among German bakeries have risen sharply, with 63 businesses filing for bankruptcy nationwide in the first half of the year — a 40 percent increase over the same period in 2025.
Larger bakery chains have been among those hit, including Mecklenburger Backstuben GmbH, Bäcker Lampe GmbH & Co. KG, Keim & Brecht OHG, and Bäckerei Kayser GmbH. The filings reflect shifting consumer habits, with 70 percent of bread and baked goods sold in the first quarter going through grocery retailers rather than specialist bakeries.
The deterioration is not new. Creditreform has tracked rising insolvency activity in the sector since 2023, pointing to a structural squeeze on traditional bakeries as supermarket competition intensifies and costs remain elevated.