Migros sells 20 consumer electronics stores to Mediamarkt
A total of 17 branches of the Migros specialist retail chain Melectronics will be closed. The focus on the core business also has consequences for other Migros locations.
The Migros specialist store Melectronics is being taken over by its German competitor Mediamarkt. MediaMarkt is taking over 20 of Melectronics' 37 locations. The remaining 17 Melectronics stores will be closed by November 2024. Mediamarkt's parent company Ceconomy is Europe's largest operator of consumer electronics stores with almost 1,000 stores internationally, according to its own information. The company has recently been able to increase its sales, but was in the red in the last financial year due to its investment in the French electronics chain Fnac. Mediamarkt currently operates 25 bricks-and-mortar stores in Switzerland.
Meletronics sale just one step for Migros
At Migros, however, the realignment is far from complete with the sale. "Following in-depth analysis, the Board of Directors of Migros Fachmarkt AG has decided to also start the divestment processes for the Micasa, Bike World and Do it + Garden specialist stores," the company continues. As a franchisee, Migros also operates ten Obi DIY store locations throughout Switzerland. According to Migros, a project group under the leadership of the Migros Cooperative Basel is currently working on possible future options. However, the ten locations are to remain open.
Migros Industry is also closing sites
In connection with the realignment of the specialist stores, Migros is also communicating downsizing measures at its Industry subsidiary. Milk processor Elsa Group is to reduce the activities of its subsidiary Schwyzer Milchhuus in Central Switzerland and close the Rothenthurm and Brunnen sites in the first quarter of 2025. Parts of the third site in Engiberg are to be discontinued. At the Migros Industrie AG site in Zurich, 65 jobs will be cut, resulting in a total of around 415 job losses. As previously announced, Migros is planning a far greater streamlining of the entire group by up to 1,500 jobs.
These are the 20 Melectronics stores that will continue to be operated by Mediamarkt:
- Zurich region: Bülach, Zurich Limmatplatz, Zurich City
- Aare region: Buchs (Wynecenter), Schönbühl (Shoppyland)
- Basel region: Basel Dreispitz, Füllinsdorf, Delémont
- Geneva region: La Praille
- Eastern Switzerland region Herblingen, Mels (Pizolpark), Amriswil, St. Gallen (EKZ Neumarkt), Winterthur (EKZ Neuwiesen)
- Valais region: Martigny (Quartz-Center), Glis (Simplon-Center)
- Central Switzerland region: Steinhausen (EKZ Zugerland), Sursee (Surseepark), Sand (Länderpark), Schwyz (Mythencenter) (aw)
