According to media reports, the household discounter Kodi wants to develop a restructuring plan, which could also fall victim to branches. The company told the F.A.Z. on request that it did not want to comment at the current time.
Mark Fehr
Editor in business.
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Recent reports point to the Lebensmittel Zeitung as a source. The industry medium, which specializes in the retail trade, had already reported at the end of October, citing insiders, that Kodi had hired retail expert Christian Müller as a restructuring consultant. The Nölle family of entrepreneurs, who are behind Kodi, are keeping all options open. According to insiders, a streamlining of the 250-store sales network is also being discussed.
Kodi speaks of a transformation process
Kodi, however, had only confirmed to Lebensmittel Zeitung that it had initiated a transformation process. Accordingly, the entire organization and all processes would be put to the test. Nothing has been decided on concrete measures. The spokeswoman denied any indications of a major staff reduction at the Kodi headquarters.
The Kodi stores sell low-cost household goods, stationery and promotional goods such as electrical appliances. Industry experts count Kodi among the non-food vendors that don't carry fresh food. Non-food products often have a more favourable trading margin for the supplier than food.
However, according to Kodi on its own website, it has been increasingly offering products from the food, drugstore and hygiene ranges since 2020 and wants to supplement the range with vegan and gluten-free foods. In the current weekly brochure, Kodi advertises waffles from Manner, wines from Maybach or a 5-liter beer barrel from Warsteiner, among other things.
Preference for smooth prices
Unlike many retailers, Kodi more often works with smooth prices and thus more transparent for customers. A kettle, for example, costs ten euros instead of 9.99 euros. A similarly positioned, but different supplier from the non-food sector is Tedi, which, however, operates significantly more stores in Germany.
Kodi was founded in 1981 by the trading company Spar. A good 20 years later, the company was sold to a holding company owned by the Nölle family. Today, Kodi employs 2500 people. As the Lebensmittel Zeitung reports, Kodi has also worked out a plan to merge with the low-cost retailers Mäc Geiz and Pfennigpfeiffer in parallel to the possible restructuring. However, an investor would still have to be sought for such a merger.