Egro Media Group acquires Gelnhäuser Neue Zeitung, saving 850 jobs
Naumann Printing and Publishing House in Gelnhausen has sold off its core media operations, including the Gelnhäuser Neue Zeitung and its digital platforms. The buyer, Egro Media Group, will take on nearly all 850 employees from the publishing division, securing their jobs under the new ownership.
The deal transfers ownership of the daily newspaper, free advertising papers, digital platforms, and logistics operations to Egro Media Group. Naumann will keep its commercial printing division and real estate assets. Oliver Naumann, the publisher and managing director, confirmed that the sale guarantees the survival of local media services.
The *Gelnhäuser Neue Zeitung* currently has a print circulation of around 8,000 copies, according to IVW data. While detailed readership figures for the past five years remain undisclosed, similar local titles have seen print circulation drop by 10–20% annually as readers shift to digital formats. Egro Media Group, a mid-sized company with interests in advertising papers, logistics, and digital marketing, has outlined plans for the newly acquired assets. Markus Echternach, the group's managing director, intends to push digital transformation, reinforce market positioning, and boost local relevance for the publications.
The takeover preserves 850 jobs and keeps the Gelnhäuser Neue Zeitung in operation. Egro Media Group will focus on modernising the business while maintaining its local presence. The future of the newspaper and its digital platforms now rests with the new owner's strategy.
