Obi wants to grow through franchising

The German DIY store chain Obi wants to grow more through franchising, not just in Germany but also in other European countries. CEO Sebastian Gundel confirmed this in an interview with diy magazine, the German-language sister magazine of DIY International, and specifically mentioned Italy. "This is something that has made us strong and that we will push forward not only in Germany but also in other countries," said Gundel about local entrepreneurship. When asked where new franchise partners could be acquired, he replied: "I am thinking of Italy, for example, but also of countries where we are not yet present – perhaps not in the short term, but I can also imagine this in the medium term."

With Sebastian Gundel taking over as CEO in 2022, Obi has initiated a change in strategy. This explicitly includes strengthening franchising. Since then, the company has gained or announced numerous new franchisees.

You can read the entire interview (in German) with Sebastian Gundel here.