The head of Erdbeerhof has turned down proposals from financial investors seeking entry. - Financial investors are being barred from entering by the head of Erdbeerhof
Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer Rejects Offers from Financial Investors as Expansion Plans Progress
German leisure park operator, Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer, has turned down offers from financial investors in the Netherlands and the UK, according to a report by Bild. The company, however, has not disclosed the reasons for the rejection.
Despite this, Karls is pressing ahead with its ambitious expansion plans. The company aims to triple its number of experience villages by 2035, with an investment of around 600 million euros. This expansion includes the development of their first foreign theme park on the US West Coast in California, marking a significant step in their international growth strategy.
Currently, Karls is actively expanding within Germany. A new Erlebnis-Dorf is under construction in Oberhausen, near the Westfield Centro shopping complex, with a planned opening in 2026. This expansion is part of Karls' broader goal of increasing accessibility, so that no one in Germany will be more than 60 minutes away from a Karls Erlebnisdorf by 2035.
Regarding the California project, while detailed timelines or location specifics are not available, statements by Robert Dahl, the third-generation Erdbeerbauer leading Karls, indicate that the US opening is a critical part of their long-term growth and internationalization efforts.
Karls has grown without the involvement of financial investors since its inception, investing every cent earned back into the company. If other investors were to come on board, they would always come with certain profit expectations. The company has not revealed its future plans regarding financial investment.
The rejection of offers from financial investors is not a new phenomenon for Karls. The company is often approached about such offers but has consistently chosen to grow organically. This approach has served the company well, as it continues to expand both domestically and internationally.
[1] Source: Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer press release, August 2021 [2] Source: Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, March 2022
To further its expansion, Karls Erlebnis-Dörfer has opted for organic growth, eschewing financial investments from the industry. Instead, the company plans to fund its ambitious projects through self-generated capital, with an aim to triple its number of experience villages by 2035 and venture into the US market. This approach to finance aligns with their vocational training program, fostering self-reliance and sustainability within the business.
