The DFS group, a travel retail giant based in Hong Kong, announced today the closure of the prestigious Fondaco dei Tedeschi store in Venice. The closure will occur by September 2025, with the dismissal of 226 employees.

The DFS group, a travel retail giant based in Hong Kong, announced today the closure of the prestigious Fondaco dei Tedeschi store in Venice. The company, which will not renew the lease contract expiring in September 2025, explained that the choice was dictated by an accurate assessment of the global economic challenges and difficulties the entire sector is experiencing.

DFS has specified that the store will remain open to the public until mid-2025, when the dismantling work on the spaces will begin before the final expiration of the contract. The company also stated that the main objective during the transition phase will be to minimise the impact on the 226 employees employed at the facility. In this regard, DFS intends to maintain an open dialogue with staff, collaborating closely with trade unions and institutions to best manage this complex phase.

Councilor Simone Venturini: “We are worried and saddened by having received the decision from DFSItaly only a few hours ago to close the activities in the German warehouse. We are angry because, as a municipal administration, we would have immediately looked for a solution to avoid leaving any workers behind.  The 226 employees, however, received this terrible news at the last moment. These workers and their families are not just numbers; they are people who, with their daily work, contribute to making Venice the unique city we know and love. I will immediately meet the trade unions and work with the Region to implement all possible initiatives to avoid dramatic consequences. No one should be left behind.”