Traditional garden delivery company Gärtner Pötschke files for bankruptcy!

Traditional garden delivery company Gärtner Pötschke files for bankruptcy!

There is no good news in the world of horticulture: Gärtner Pötschke GmbH, a traditional garden mail order company from Kaarst, filed for bankruptcy on May 30, 2025. This decision marks the company's third bankruptcy since 2019, as AZ Online reported. The step is no coincidence, as the company is facing a variety of financial burdens: rising logistics costs, declining demand in the shipping business and technical problems with a newly designed online shop are affecting the once thriving company.

On June 2nd, the Düsseldorf District Court opened preliminary insolvency proceedings under the direction of Christian Holzmann from the law firm Brinkmann & Partner. While business operations continue for the time being, the future of the company remains uncertain as the insolvency administrator is actively looking for restructuring options and potential investors T Online reported.

A company with tradition

The history of Gärtner Pötschke goes back to 1912, when the company was founded as a group order mail order company in Mörsdorf, Thuringia. After the Second World War, the location moved to Kaarst and developed into one of the oldest mail order companies in Germany, which also shows how much the loss of such a company hurts.

Gärtner Pötschke currently employs around 140 dedicated employees, many of whom have been part of the company for decades. These employees can breathe a temporary sigh of relief; their salaries are secured through pre-financing of insolvency funds. Nevertheless, there is great uncertainty, especially since a new managing director, the son of the founder Walter Droege, resigned from his position shortly after the bankruptcy, which raised questions about internal stability.

Market situation and challenges

The problem of insolvency is not unique: In Germany, over 21,000 companies filed for bankruptcy in 2024 - an increase of 22.4% compared to the previous year, according to this IFM Bonn. Older companies in particular often struggle with the consequences of crises and changes in the market. The reasons for such developments are complex; the economic conditions represent a major challenge for many companies.

For gardener Pötschke, time will now be crucial. The provisional insolvency administrator's aim is to stabilize the business and find a buyer. But the clock is ticking because the pressure to find a solution quickly is high. The brand that has stood for garden lovers for more than a century could soon be history if a viable rescue strategy is not developed in time.

The future of the company remains uncertain, while employees and loyal customers look forward to a positive turnaround.