Wertkauf
| Company type | GmbH |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1958 in Karlsruhe, Germany |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Fate | Acquired by Walmart |
| Headquarters | Karlsruhe , Germany |
Area served | Germany |
Key people | Hugo Mann, Rosmarie Mann (née Porst) |
| Products | Retail stores |
Number of employees | 6000 |
| Parent | Walmart (from 1997) |
Wertkauf Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH was a German retail enterprise that managed 21 stores prior to its purchase by the American supermarket corporation Walmart in 1997. The firm's main office was located in Karlsruhe.
History
The inaugural Wertkauf outlet commenced operations in 1958 in Karlsruhe. By 1966, the company had introduced a 3,500 m2 value shopping center in Freiburg. A shopping complex in Karlsruhe, originally constructed around 1965, suffered extensive damage due to a significant fire in August 1969 but was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged at the same location.
A second branch in Freiburg, measuring 6,000 m2, was inaugurated eight years after the first. In 1968, Wertkauf launched what was then Europe's largest self-service department store within Munich’s Euro-Industriepark, covering an area of 13,500 m2, equipped with tall shelving units and goods handling facilitated by forklifts.
The retail chain reached annual revenues up to €1.5 billion and employed roughly 6,000 staff members.
The company was owned by Hugo Mann and his wife Rosmarie (née Porst). Wertkauf originated from their furniture retail business Mann Mobilia, which later transformed into Wertkauf before becoming a separate entity.
In 1997, Walmart acquired Wertkauf. After Walmart's failed attempt to expand throughout Germany, its operations were divested to the Metro Group in 2006.