Globus Holding
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGerman family-owned retail group operating Globus hypermarkets, Czech hypermarkets, and Globus Baumarkt home-improvement stores.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Globus Holding GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German retail group whose roots reach back to a grocery shop established by Franz Bruch in Sankt Wendel in 1828. The company has remained associated with the Bruch family while evolving from a local grocery business into a multi-format retailer with operations in food retail, home improvement, and real estate. The group's principal food business operates Globus Markthallen in Germany and Globus hypermarkets in the Czech Republic. These large stores combine groceries with broad non-food ranges and, depending on the location, specialist services such as in-store bakeries, butcher counters, sushi, fish and cheese counters, restaurants, petrol stations, and car washes. In the Czech Republic, Globus also operates smaller Globus Fresh formats. The German hypermarket business changed its public-facing name from Globus SB-Warenhaus to Globus Markthallen in 2022 as part of a store-concept and branding revision. Globus also operates Globus Baumarkt, a separate home-improvement division focused on do-it-yourself products, building materials, tools, household improvement, and garden supplies. The division grew from its first store in Saarbrücken in 1982 and expanded through organic development and acquisitions, including the purchase of Hela locations in 2007 and selected Max Bahr sites in 2013. Its network includes stores in Germany and Luxembourg. The group expanded beyond Germany after reunification, opening stores in eastern Germany, and entered the Czech market in 1996. It later established a Russian hypermarket business, but that operation was separated from Globus Holding at the beginning of 2025. The Russian company became independent while Globus shareholders retained an unchanged economic interest, ending Globus Holding's direct stake in the Russian hypermarket operation. Globus joined the German Retail Trade Group purchasing and retail cooperation in 2020 and subsequently acquired and converted a substantial number of former Real hypermarket locations. The first conversions occurred in 2021, with additional sites integrated in 2022 and the final reported conversions completed in 2023. The group is managed as a family-owned enterprise rather than a stock-market-listed corporation. In the 2024/25 financial year, the group was reported to operate 61 German hypermarkets, 16 Czech hypermarkets, four Globus Fresh locations, and 90 Globus Baumarkt stores, including two in Luxembourg. Reported group sales for that financial year were approximately EUR 8.81 billion, with the cited Wikipedia source describing the figure in the context of fiscal year 2024/25.
History
Globus traces its origin to 1828, when Franz Bruch opened a grocery shop in Sankt Wendel in what is now Saarland, Germany. Management passed through successive generations of the Bruch family. Franz Bruch's son Joseph Adam Bruch assumed control in 1865, followed by Joseph Karl Bruch in 1905. Under the family’s direction, the enterprise expanded beyond conventional retail and developed wholesale activities. After Joseph Karl Bruch's death in 1949, his sons Franz-Josef Bruch and Walter Bruch took over. During the 1950s, changing consumer habits and the spread of self-service prompted them to restructure the company. In 1953, the business opened a self-service grocery store at its headquarters under the A. Backhaus KG name. A consumer market opened in Einöd in 1966; this store is generally treated as an early predecessor of the later Globus hypermarket format. The business expanded through additional store openings and became one of Germany's larger food retailers. German reunification created an opportunity to enter the eastern German market. Globus later expanded internationally, opening its first Czech hypermarket in 1996. The company entered Russia in 2006 with a hypermarket operation that was subsequently separated from the holding's direct structure at the beginning of 2025. The food format broadened its service proposition over time. Beginning in 2005, selected hypermarkets introduced master bakeries, alongside specialist butcher counters and, at many sites, restaurants. Fresh-food services such as sushi, cheese, and fish counters were added at relevant locations, while some stores also incorporated petrol stations and car washes. A second major business line developed in home improvement. Erich Huwer initiated the first Globus DIY store in Saarbrücken in 1982, followed by stores in Zweibrücken in 1986 and Regensburg in 1988. Expansion into eastern Germany began in 1990 with a store in Ilmenau. The DIY activities were consolidated under Globus Baumarkt Holding in 1987 and have operated as Globus Fachmärkte since 2003. The division expanded through the acquisition of 33 Hela large-format DIY stores in 2007, including locations in Germany and Luxembourg, and the acquisition of 11 locations from the insolvent Max Bahr chain in 2013. Leadership also remained concentrated within the families associated with the two divisions. Thomas Bruch handed management of Globus Holding to his son Matthias Bruch on 1 July 2020. In the DIY division, Timo Huwer succeeded his father Erich Huwer as spokesman of the management board in January 2020. Globus joined the Retail Trade Group cooperation in August 2020. Later that year, the Federal Cartel Office approved the acquisition of up to 24 former Real stores. The first conversions took place in 2021, followed by additional conversions in 2022 and the final reported locations in 2023. In January 2022, the German hypermarket business adopted the Globus Markthallen name as part of a revised store concept and appearance. The group's Russian presence became a reputational issue after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Although Globus condemned the war, its decision to continue operating in Russia drew criticism. At the start of 2025, the Russian business was spun off into an independent company, ending Globus Holding's direct ownership while preserving the shareholders' unchanged interest. The group’s reported 2024/25 network comprised 61 German hypermarkets, 16 Czech hypermarkets, four Globus Fresh stores, and 90 Globus Baumarkt stores, with reported sales of EUR 8.81 billion for that financial year.
- 2025
Russian business separated
[1]The Russian hypermarket operation becomes independent from Globus Holding's direct stake.
- 2022
German hypermarkets adopt Markthallen name
[1]The German hypermarket business changes its name to Globus Markthallen Holding and stores are presented as Markthallen.
- 2020
Leadership succession and retail cooperation
[1]Matthias Bruch succeeds Thomas Bruch as head of Globus Holding, while Globus joins the Retail Trade Group.
- 2013
Max Bahr locations acquired
[1]The DIY division announces the acquisition of 11 locations from insolvent chain Max Bahr.
- 2007
Hela DIY acquisition
[1]Globus Baumarkt acquires 33 large-format Hela DIY stores, including two in Luxembourg.
- 2005
Master bakeries introduced
[1]Selected hypermarkets begin adding in-store master bakeries and broader fresh-food services.
- 1996
Entry into the Czech Republic
[1]Globus opens its first Czech hypermarket, beginning its principal international food-retail expansion.
- 1982
First Globus DIY store
[1]Erich Huwer initiates the first Globus home-improvement store in Saarbrücken.
- 1966
Einöd consumer market opens
[1]The Einöd consumer market becomes an early precursor of the later Globus hypermarket format.
- 1953
First self-service grocery format
[1]A. Backhaus KG opens a self-service grocery store at the company's headquarters.
Products and positioning
Large-format, service-oriented family retail group combining food hypermarkets with home-improvement stores.
Food hypermarkets · 1966
Globus Markthallen
Globus Markthallen are the group's German large-format food stores. They combine grocery departments with fresh-food counters, bakery operations, butcher services, selected non-food categories, and in some locations restaurants, petrol stations, and car washes. The Markthallen name was introduced in 2022 during a revision of the German hypermarket concept and appearance.
Food hypermarkets · 1996
Globus Hypermarkets
The Czech Globus hypermarkets provide large-scale grocery and general merchandise retail, with fresh-food departments and other services adapted to local markets. The first Czech store opened in 1996, establishing the group's main international food-retail presence.
Convenience and small-format food retail
Globus Fresh
Globus Fresh is a smaller Czech retail format designed for more compact locations than the group's full-size hypermarkets. Reported locations include stores in Pardubice, Prague-Řepy, Prague-Stodůlky, and Brno.
DIY and home improvement · 1982
Globus Baumarkt
Globus Baumarkt is the group's home-improvement division, selling building materials, tools, DIY equipment, home-improvement goods, and garden products. The network originated with a Saarbrücken store in 1982 and operates primarily in Germany, with additional stores in Luxembourg.
Controversies
2022
Criticism over continued Russian operations
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Globus was criticized for continuing to operate its Russian hypermarket business. The company condemned the war and cited concerns about the possible forced nationalization or loss of its Russian assets. The Russian business was later separated from Globus Holding's direct stake at the beginning of 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
Separation of the Russian hypermarket businessStrategyBackground
Globus's continued Russian operations had become controversial after the invasion of Ukraine and raised concerns about asset-loss and nationalization risks.
Action taken
Globus Holding separated its direct stake in the Russian hypermarket operation, which began operating independently while the shareholders' economic interest remained unchanged.
Aftermath
The Russian business no longer formed part of Globus Holding's direct operating structure from January 2025.
2022
Rebranding of German hypermarkets as MarkthallenStrategyBackground
Globus undertook a revision of its store concept and visual presentation for the German hypermarket business.
Action taken
The German hypermarket operation changed its corporate name to Globus Markthallen Holding and stores adopted the Markthallen designation.
Aftermath
The revised name became the principal public identity of the German hypermarket division.
2020
Pursuit of former Real storesM&ABackground
The break-up and sale of the German Real hypermarket network created an opportunity for Globus to expand its store estate.
Action taken
Globus obtained Federal Cartel Office approval to acquire up to 24 former Real locations and began converting selected stores from 2021 onward.
Aftermath
Locations were integrated in several waves through 2023, including the final reported sites in Wesel, Siegen, and Hamburg-Lurup.
Sources2 sources
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