Top Investments of the Year 2024 in Bremen
16 million euros in foreign direct investment flowed into Bremen last year as a result of new companies settling there.
Feb 18, 2025
As an international logistics and high-tech location, Bremen attracts investment from all over the world every year. Companies want to benefit from the ideal location in Europe, the scientific landscape and the innovative environment.
Last year, the international investment landscape was characterized by consolidation and restraint. Factors such as high inflation, rising interest rates, geopolitical tensions and disrupted supply chains had a negative impact on global economic sentiment and therefore also on the investment business. Despite this, numerous companies from the retail, import and export sectors in areas such as consumer products, logistics and technology opted for a location in the Hanseatic city. They invested around 16 million euros - this figure only includes new companies that also create jobs here, but not foreign real estate or project investments.
Focus on retail in the city center
City centers throughout Germany are facing similar challenges today: Competition from online retail, shopping centers in peripheral locations and changing consumer habits are leading to closure of businesses and shop vacancies.
New concepts for vibrant city centers are needed to counteract this trend. In Bremen, WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH (WFB) is supporting this process in a variety of ways. One way is to attract new retail companies that attract attention with their products and attract new target groups. To this end, WFB actively approaches companies in Europe and invites them to get to know the infrastructure, space and retail offers in the Hanseatic city in order to support their market exploration. With success: the Danish retail chain Søstrene Grene opened a new branch in Bremen city center in 2024. The coworking provider Clockwise from the UK opened the largest coworking space in the city in 2024. Other international companies currently attracted to Bremen are the TK Maxx, HiFi Klubben and Urban Outfitters chains.
Bremen attracts guests - and therefore hoteliers too
City sights, retail and nature attract millions of tourists to Bremen every year. Since last year, they have found an architectural highlight in the new John & Will Silohotel - an old grain silo has been transformed into a modern hotel with plenty of industrial charm. The unique building is operated by the Danish hotel chain Guldsmeden Hotels, which opened its first location in Bremen.
Bremen in demand as a technology location
In addition to the retail sector, Bremen was in demand as a science and technology location last year. The marine division of the Swedish company SAAB Group moved into the SPURWERK district project to set up a software development hub with 100 employees on 1,680 square meters. The company will thus benefit from the expertise in the IT and maritime sectors in Bremen.
Arkhetech, a Turkish software start-up from Izmir, that deals with digital twins and AR/VR technologies in the field of urban planning and architecture, also set up shop in Bremen and found a strategic investor here in the Uzuner Competence Group as well.
Prominall GmbH also comes from Turkey. The pet snack manufacturer will use Bremen as a logistics location in the future and will benefit from the strong food industry in the Hanseatic city.
Prominall made a conscious decision in favor of Bremen: “Bremen is located in the north of Germany and is an ideal hub for our company with its strategic location, advanced logistics infrastructure and business-friendly environment. The advantages that Bremen offers include good connections to important European cities, a strong economic structure and an innovative corporate culture. The port of Bremen offers a major advantage for our commercial activities, making our logistics processes more efficient,” says Öztunc Agduk, Managing Director of the newly founded German Prominall GmbH.
