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18. 06. 09. - 13:00

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18. 06. 09. - 13:00

Cosmos sneaks away from Kapfenberg

By Thomas Hochwarter

Electronics retailer Cosmos today (Thurs) announced the closure of its branch in Kapfenberg.

The Austrian company said nine full-time, four part-time and five trainee employees would be affected by the closure on 31 July.

Cosmos is the country’s second-biggest chain that offers home cinema products, hi-fi sets, CDs, DVDs and more for sale. The company employs 1,200 staff at its 27 branches.

CEO Josef Anreiter claimed the company had found a "socially-acceptable solution" for the personnel to be sacked. Amreiter said the five trainees, for example, could continue their traineeship at the company’s Graz Shopping Centre West branch.

He added: "The closure of our shop in Kapfenberg is a measure to ensure the survival of our other branches and to sustain jobs."

Amreiter said the 2,000-square-metre branch in the Styrian town had to be shut because customers were "extremely reluctant" to go shopping there. He said the company would introduce a "strict restructuring course" to be ready for future challenges such as expansion.

Fashion chain C&A will take over the venue, it has been announced.

The province of Styria saw a 40.7 per cent year-on-year increase of unemployment in May. Only Upper Austria and Carinthia were affected worse than Styria.

Austrian Times

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