Traditional Nissen bakery in Glücksburg files for bankruptcy – 80 jobs at risk!

Traditional Nissen bakery in Glücksburg files for bankruptcy – 80 jobs at risk!

A painful turning point for the region: the traditional Nissen bakery has filed for bankruptcy. After more than a year in office, Managing Director Rüdiger Prill has taken this difficult step. At the heart of the problems are high personnel costs and health problems that Prill has been struggling with for some time. The insolvency application was filed today and affects around 80 employees and 14 branches of the city bakery in Glücksburg. Many loyal customers show solidarity with their bakery despite the bankruptcy.

Nissen, known for its fresh baked goods, has experienced some challenges in recent months. Prill only took over the bakery from Sönke Nissen in September 2024. Shortly after the takeover, however, financial problems arose as there was a wage increase and the additional Christmas bonus paid. These decisions, which he describes as “wrong,” increased the difficulties. Prill also suffered a cardiac arrest a few months ago, which further complicated the already tense situation.

Insolvency proceedings and outlook

The insolvency proceedings are scheduled to open on January 1, 2026. Insolvency administrator Nicolas Grimm will now initiate the further steps. It is important to him and the employment agency to stabilize operations and secure jobs. Employee wages will be guaranteed until the end of December, a measure that gives many employees some hope.

The founder's son, Sönke Nissen, supports the new managing director in an advisory capacity. Despite the gloomy outlook, the team is optimistic and would like the bakery to remain in its original form. “The mood in the team remains positive,” they say. Many employees hope that the traditional bakery will continue to exist.

Industry under pressure

But the insolvency of the city bakery is not an isolated case. Other bakeries in Germany, such as the Leifert bakery, have also had to take similar steps. Problems such as the weak economy and rising operating costs are putting a strain on the entire industry. Jupp Zenzen from the DIHK warns of a persistent economic crisis that is bringing many companies to their knees. In July 2025, statistics recorded a 19.2 percent increase in bankruptcies compared to the previous year.

The current situation in Germany shows a worrying trend: in 2023 there were around 110,200 corporate bankruptcies. The numbers are highest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The service sector accounts for a large proportion of insolvencies, which also illustrates the challenges for many small and medium-sized companies.

The Nissen city bakery now faces the challenge of repositioning itself and perhaps emerging stronger from this situation. Customer loyalty could be the key to a new beginning. The extent of the difficulties in the industry shows how important it is to have a good knack for strategic decisions and to set the right course even in times of crisis.