The Bookseller reports that leading German book chain Thalia is to take over 89 book departments from Karstadt, the country’s largest operator of department stores. The move will increase the number of Thalia stores—202 at the end of 2006—by over 40%. All of Karstadt’s book departments will be run under the Thalia brand name as “shops-in-shops”, and will expand from an average area of 3,000 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft. Five new Thalia stores will be trialled in July, with the format rolled out across the chain by February 1, 2008.
The deal price had not been revealed when the story went to press, and as yet the sale still had to be approved by the competition authorities.