Bauen+Leben adds three Lagerland sites in Thuringia

The Bauen+Leben franchise network is expanding in the German state of Thuringia: family-owned builders’ merchant Lagerland is joining with its three sites in Gotha, Ebeleben and Breitenworbis. Integration will take place in stages, beginning with joint purchasing. The supported operational launch within the franchise system is scheduled for 1 June 2027. Lagerland will retain its membership of the Eurobaustoff buying group.

Three existing builders’ merchants join the network

Lagerland brings Bauen+Leben a merchant with decades of trading experience. Founded in 1991, the family business now operates three builders’ merchants in Thuringia. The announcement therefore concerns the integration of existing businesses into a franchise system, rather than the opening of new outlets.

According to Bauen+Leben, the move will increase its number of outlets in Thuringia from two to five. The three Lagerland sites will significantly strengthen the network’s regional presence. Their addition also marks another step in the expansion of Bauen+Leben’s nationwide network of independent specialist merchants.

For those assessing the German franchise market, the way this growth is being achieved is particularly relevant: an established merchant is adding another organisational layer alongside its existing buying-group membership. This represents a different route to network development from the launch of a new franchisee business or the opening of an additional branch, which often attract more attention.

Purchasing first, franchise launch in June 2027

Lagerland’s integration is designed as a multi-stage process. According to the announcement published on 12 November 2026, integration begins immediately with joint purchasing. A supported operational launch within the franchise system will follow on 1 June 2027. There will therefore be a transition period between the first area of joint activity and the planned franchise launch.

This distinction matters when interpreting the news. The announced agreement to join does not mean that every stage of integration has already been completed. Purchasing will be brought into the network first, while the broader operational launch has its own scheduled date. The three existing trading sites and their future franchise membership should therefore be considered separately from the question of when integration will be fully implemented.

Lagerland will also remain a member of Eurobaustoff. Joining Bauen+Leben adds to that affiliation rather than replacing it. The development cannot therefore be described as a complete switch from one organisation to another. Instead, the merchant will combine its existing buying-group membership with participation in the franchise network.

A franchise model for established merchants

Bauen+Leben describes its model as a conversion franchise system. Rather than targeting start-ups, it recruits established specialist builders’ merchants that bring their existing businesses into the model. With its trading history and three established sites, Lagerland fits this approach.

Bauen+Leben’s own roots lie within Eurobaustoff: it began in 1999 as an alliance within the buying group. It has offered its model nationwide since 2014. The combination of buying-group membership and franchising should therefore also be viewed in the context of the system’s origins.

The franchise is intended to add elements that buying-group membership alone does not provide: business management and a consistent organisational framework. Joint purchasing is thus the first step in Lagerland’s integration, but it does not define the entire model. For existing merchants, this case shows that choosing between a buying group and a franchise need not be an either-or decision.

Regional expansion within a nationwide network

According to the German Franchise Association profile cited in the announcement, Bauen+Leben has around 90 sites and more than 1,600 employees. The profile puts network-wide sales at approximately €600 million. These figures indicate the scale of the overall system, not the financial performance of Lagerland or the three Thuringian businesses joining it.

The regional increase, by contrast, is clear: Lagerland’s membership will add three outlets to Bauen+Leben’s presence in Thuringia. Implementation will hinge on the announced timetable, starting with purchasing and followed by the supported franchise launch in June 2027.

Practical takeaway: Existing merchants considering joining a franchise should distinguish between purchasing services, business management support and organisational integration. The Lagerland case also shows that existing buying-group membership can be compatible with joining a franchise. Which services become available, and when, should therefore be an early item on the due diligence checklist.