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Germany: Schwarz Group will soon open its Schwarz Digits Campus

Discount Retail Chain Lidl's mother company the Schwarz Group will mark in 2026 its first year of operation of the Schwarz-Digits-Campus. Even though the exact time of the official opening remains under wraps, the preparations on the site are clearly visible. The first employees are to move into the futuristic building complex in the course of the year, a significant step for the location and the entire region.


The new campus is finally planned for approx. 5,000 employees of the Schwarz Group.

Several infrastructural measures have already been completed. The four new bus stops in the campus area have been served since mid-December. Mayor Timo Frey emphasizes that all major transport connections should be available in the first quarter of 2026. The two new cycle and pedestrian bridges are particularly eye-catching: one connects the Kochendorf Süd light rail station with the campus across the tracks, the other creates a connection from the direction of Kochendorf and the parking decks.


Traffic, construction projects and patience required

While the campus construction itself is progressing well, there are delays in other transportation projects. The planned light rail stop near the campus is still a long time coming. Missing block signals and problems with the construction of a connecting track at Neckarsulm station are causing delays. The city's hope is that the stop will be able to be approached at least to a limited extent from December 2026. The construction schedule is the responsibility of the Stuttgart Regional Council, the city itself is not financially involved.

The interim expansion of the B27 junction in Kochendorf is also being planned. Construction work is scheduled to begin this year and be completed by the end of 2027, with ongoing traffic. Such large-scale projects require patience on the part of citizens, but in the long term they are crucial for an efficient infrastructure.


A positive signal comes from the hotel industry: After years of construction, the extension of the Hotel Schloss Lehen has finally opened. 72 additional rooms will significantly increase capacity and ensure the profitability of the operation. Managing Director Rainer Rudolf emphasizes that the investment, a double-digit million amount, also serves the preservation of the historic castle. The construction phase was marked by challenges, including flood protection, but the result is impressive.


Budget crisis as the biggest challenge

Despite all the construction progress, Bad Friedrichshall is facing considerable financial challenges. "The budget crisis is above all," Mayor Frey makes clear. The design of the municipal budget is difficult, the submission to the municipal council is planned for February, comparatively late in the municipal calendar.


Nevertheless, further projects are underway. The new construction of the Lindenberghalle is developing encouragingly: After the groundbreaking ceremony in 2025, important preparatory work has already been completed. The laying of the foundation stone is scheduled for February 25, and the project is on time and on budget, according to the city. At the same time, the administration is working on long-term topics such as heat planning and the biotope network.


The city is also concerned with legal requirements, such as the upcoming legal entitlement to all-day care for primary school children. The necessary conditions have been created, now it is still a matter of determining the parental contributions. There is also movement on private construction sites: The rectory is to be demolished and replaced by a modern new building, while another residential project has already been completed.


Bad Friedrichshall is thus in a phase of upheaval, characterized by great opportunities, but also by financial and organizational challenges. The Schwarz-Digits-Campus is symbolic of the road into the future.



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