diff --git a/API.article.md b/API.article.md
index 69b46ca..167d831 100644
--- a/API.article.md
+++ b/API.article.md
@@ -160,6 +160,48 @@ const history = await store.article.getHistoryBySku(42, 'SKU-1');
 // => [{ id, companyuserId, date, text }]
 ```
 
+## `article.importRows`
+
+*Source: `src/store/article/importRows.js`*
+
+Imports article rows, creating articles by their SKU and returning per-row import, skip and error outcomes. The import runs in **two passes** so a `fatherSku` that references a row appearing later in the file still resolves. A row is **skipped** when its SKU already exists in the company (upsert mode is not applied), and an EAN is skipped when already used by another row.
+
+**Parameters**
+
+| Name | Type | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `input` | `object` | The import input. |
+| `input.googleAuthId` | `number` | The id of the Google auth user. |
+| `input.rows` | `Array<object>` | The article rows to import. |
+| `input.rows[].sku` | `string` | The article SKU. |
+| `input.rows[].name` | `string` | The article name. |
+| `[input.rows[].vk]` | `string` | `'V'` (father/compound) or `'K'` (variant) marker. |
+| `[input.rows[].parentId]` | `number|string` | The id of the parent category. |
+| `[input.rows[].parentCategory]` | `string` | The category breadcrumb path, e.g. `'Flowers | CBN'`. |
+| `[input.rows[].brand]` | `string` | The brand name to upsert. |
+| `[input.rows[].net]` | `number|string` | The POS net price (accepts German decimals). |
+| `[input.rows[].tax]` | `number|string` | The tax rate in percent (e.g. `19`). |
+| `[input.rows[].eans]` | `Array<string>|string` | The EANs to set. |
+| `[input.rows[].fatherSku]` | `string` | The father article SKU for a V/K compound link. |
+| `[input.rows[].deposit]` | `number|string` | The deposit (Pfand) value; currently ignored. |
+
+**Returns**
+
+`Promise<{imported: Array<object>, skipped: Array<object>, errors: Array<object>}>` — The import outcome.
+
+**Example**
+
+```js
+const result = await store.article.importRows({
+  googleAuthId: 42,
+  rows: [
+    { sku: '42001190-1', name: '420Strainz 1g', vk: 'K', parentCategory: 'Flowers | CBN', brand: 'Seedstockers', net: '11,00', tax: 19, eans: ['4262557690455'], fatherSku: '42001190' },
+    { sku: '42001190', name: '420Strainz', vk: 'V', parentCategory: 'Flowers | CBN', brand: 'Seedstockers', net: '0,00', tax: 19 },
+  ],
+});
+// => { imported: [...], skipped: [...], errors: [...] }
+```
+
 ## `article.listExport`
 
 *Source: `src/store/article/listExport.js`*
@@ -328,6 +370,35 @@ const article = await store.article.setEansBySku(42, 'SKU-1', ['4001234567890'])
 // => { id, sku, name, ... }
 ```
 
+## `article.setFatherBySku`
+
+*Source: `src/store/article/setFatherBySku.js`*
+
+Links an article to a father article (V/K compound) by their SKUs.
+
+**Parameters**
+
+| Name | Type | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `googleAuthId` | `number` | The id of the Google auth user. |
+| `sku` | `string` | The child article SKU. |
+| `fatherSku` | `string|null` | The father article SKU, or `null` to unlink. |
+
+**Returns**
+
+`Promise<object>` — The updated child article.
+
+**Throws**
+
+`Error` — If the article or father is not found, or the link is invalid.
+
+**Example**
+
+```js
+const article = await store.article.setFatherBySku(42, '42001190-1', '42001190');
+// => { id, sku, name, fatherSku: '42001190', ... }
+```
+
 ## `article.setPricesBySku`
 
 *Source: `src/store/article/setPricesBySku.js`*
diff --git a/API.category.md b/API.category.md
index adbec74..4c57bd6 100644
--- a/API.category.md
+++ b/API.category.md
@@ -109,6 +109,33 @@ const result = await store.category.deleteImage(42, 5);
 // => { id: 5, thumbW: null, thumbH: null, thumbHash: null }
 ```
 
+## `category.ensureByPath`
+
+*Source: `src/store/category/ensureByPath.js`*
+
+Resolves a category by breadcrumb path under a given parent, creating any missing categories along the way. Returns the leaf category id.
+
+**Parameters**
+
+| Name | Type | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `input` | `object` | The category resolution input. |
+| `input.googleAuthId` | `number` | The id of the Google auth user. |
+| `input.parentId` | `number` | The id of the parent category to start from. |
+| `input.path` | `string` | The breadcrumb path, e.g. `'Haupt | Flowers | CBN'`. |
+| `[tx]` | `object` | Optional transaction to run within. |
+
+**Returns**
+
+`Promise<number>` — The id of the leaf category.
+
+**Example**
+
+```js
+const id = await store.category.ensureByPath({ googleAuthId: 42, parentId: 5, path: 'Haupt | Flowers | CBN' });
+// => 12
+```
+
 ## `category.getCategoryArticles`
 
 *Source: `src/store/category/getCategoryArticles.js`*
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 3dcc40a..3755b31 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ import articleSetEansBySku from './store/article/setEansBySku.js';
 import articleSetBrandIdBySku from './store/article/setBrandIdBySku.js';
 import articleSetWeightBySku from './store/article/setWeightBySku.js';
 import articleSetCategoryIdsBySku from './store/article/setCategoryIdsBySku.js';
+import articleSetFatherBySku from './store/article/setFatherBySku.js';
+import articleImportRows from './store/article/importRows.js';
+import categoryEnsureByPath from './store/category/ensureByPath.js';
 import unitList from './store/unit/list.js';
 import unitUpsert from './store/unit/upsert.js';
 import unitDelete from './store/unit/delete.js';
@@ -129,6 +132,7 @@ export default class LibDashStore {
       getTreeForCompany: categoryGetTreeForCompany(pool),
       getCategoryArticles: categoryGetCategoryArticles(pool),
       createUnderParent: categoryCreateUnderParent(pool),
+      ensureByPath: categoryEnsureByPath(pool),
       rename: categoryRename(pool),
       move: categoryMove(pool),
       order: categoryOrder(pool),
@@ -149,6 +153,8 @@ export default class LibDashStore {
       setBrandIdBySku: articleSetBrandIdBySku(pool),
       setWeightBySku: articleSetWeightBySku(pool),
       setCategoryIdsBySku: articleSetCategoryIdsBySku(pool),
+      setFatherBySku: articleSetFatherBySku(pool),
+      importRows: articleImportRows(pool),
       addImage: articleAddImage(pool),
       deleteImage: articleDeleteImage(pool),
       orderImages: articleOrderImages(pool),
diff --git a/src/sql/article.js b/src/sql/article.js
index fbe5f65..395d9e6 100644
--- a/src/sql/article.js
+++ b/src/sql/article.js
@@ -59,6 +59,39 @@ INNER JOIN categoryarticle ca ON ca.article_id = a.id
 WHERE a.sku = @sku
 `;
 
+/** Resolve an article id by sku (used to wire father/child compound links). */
+export const GET_ID_BY_SKU = `
+SELECT TOP 1 id AS articleId
+FROM article
+WHERE sku = @sku
+`;
+
+/** True if an EAN is already assigned to any article (duplicate guard). */
+export const EAN_EXISTS = `
+SELECT TOP 1 1 AS used
+FROM articleean
+WHERE ean = @ean
+`;
+
+/** Link an article to its father article and mark the father. */
+export const UPDATE_FATHER_BY_SKU = `
+UPDATE article
+SET fatherarticle_id = @fatherArticleId
+WHERE sku = @sku
+`;
+
+export const SET_IS_FATHER = `
+UPDATE article
+SET is_father = 1
+WHERE id = @articleId
+`;
+
+export const SET_FATHER_SORT = `
+UPDATE article
+SET fathersort = @fathersort
+WHERE id = @articleId AND fatherarticle_id = @fatherArticleId
+`;
+
 /** SKU → article/category + company auth in one round-trip. */
 export const RESOLVE_ARTICLE_ACCESS_BY_SKU = `
 WITH article_cat AS (
diff --git a/src/sql/category.js b/src/sql/category.js
index 0a1e45e..b6b0730 100644
--- a/src/sql/category.js
+++ b/src/sql/category.js
@@ -92,6 +92,16 @@ FROM category
 WHERE parent_id = @parentId
 `;
 
+/** Resolve a child category by its parent id and name (language-sensitive). */
+export const GET_BY_PARENT_AND_NAME = `
+SELECT c.id
+FROM category c
+INNER JOIN categorytext ct
+    ON ct.category_id = c.id AND ct.language_id = @languageId
+WHERE c.parent_id = @parentId
+  AND ct.name = @name
+`;
+
 export const LIST_CHILD_IDS = `
 SELECT id
 FROM category
diff --git a/src/store/article/importRows.js b/src/store/article/importRows.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..379e7ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/store/article/importRows.js
@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+import {
+  ADD_EAN,
+  CREATE as CREATE_ARTICLE,
+  EAN_EXISTS,
+  GET_ID_BY_SKU,
+  SET_FATHER_SORT,
+  SET_IS_FATHER,
+  UPDATE_BRAND,
+  UPDATE_FATHER_BY_SKU,
+} from '../../sql/article.js';
+import { ADD as ADD_CATEGORYARTICLE } from '../../sql/categoryarticle.js';
+import { CREATE as CREATE_ARTICLETEXT } from '../../sql/articletext.js';
+import { INSERT as INSERT_HISTORY } from '../../sql/articlehistory.js';
+import { GET_CHILD_COUNT } from '../../sql/articleDelete.js';
+import { CREATE as CREATE_BRAND, GET_BY_COMPANY_AND_NAME } from '../../sql/brand.js';
+import { CREATE as CREATE_PRICE } from '../../sql/price.js';
+import { CREATE as CREATE_TAX, GET_BY_RATE } from '../../sql/tax.js';
+import request from '../request.js';
+import resolveSelectedCompanyAccess from '../companyuser/resolveSelectedCompanyAccess.js';
+import ensureByPath from '../category/ensureByPath.js';
+import ensureDefaultUnit from '../unit/ensureDefault.js';
+import slugify from '../slugify.js';
+
+// Normalizes a numeric value that may arrive as a string using German decimal
+// notation (e.g. "11,00"), a JS number, or null/undefined. Returns null when empty.
+function toNumber(value) {
+  if (value === null || value === undefined) return null;
+  if (typeof value === 'number') {
+    return Number.isFinite(value) ? value : null;
+  }
+  const s = String(value).trim();
+  if (s === '') return null;
+  const n = Number(s.replace(',', '.'));
+  return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : null;
+}
+
+export default function importRows(pool) {
+  const companyAccess = resolveSelectedCompanyAccess(pool);
+  const ensureUnit = ensureDefaultUnit(pool);
+  const ensureCategoryByPath = ensureByPath(pool);
+
+  // Find or create a brand for a company by name (within the current tx).
+  async function ensureBrand(tx, companyId, name) {
+    const existing = await request(pool, tx)
+      .input('companyId', companyId)
+      .input('name', name)
+      .query(GET_BY_COMPANY_AND_NAME);
+
+    if (existing.recordset[0]) {
+      return existing.recordset[0].id;
+    }
+
+    const created = await request(pool, tx)
+      .input('companyId', companyId)
+      .input('name', name)
+      .input('gsprpinfo', null)
+      .query(CREATE_BRAND);
+
+    return created.recordset[0].id;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Imports article rows, creating articles by their SKU and returning per-row
+   * import, skip and error outcomes.
+   *
+   * The import runs in **two passes** so a `fatherSku` that references a row
+   * appearing later in the file still resolves. A row is **skipped** when its
+   * SKU already exists in the company (upsert mode is not applied), and an EAN
+   * is skipped when already used by another row.
+   *
+   * @param {object} input - The import input.
+   * @param {number} input.googleAuthId - The id of the Google auth user.
+   * @param {Array<object>} input.rows - The article rows to import.
+   * @param {string} input.rows[].sku - The article SKU.
+   * @param {string} input.rows[].name - The article name.
+   * @param {string} [input.rows[].vk] - `'V'` (father/compound) or `'K'` (variant) marker.
+   * @param {number|string} [input.rows[].parentId] - The id of the parent category.
+   * @param {string} [input.rows[].parentCategory] - The category breadcrumb path, e.g. `'Flowers | CBN'`.
+   * @param {string} [input.rows[].brand] - The brand name to upsert.
+   * @param {number|string} [input.rows[].net] - The POS net price (accepts German decimals).
+   * @param {number|string} [input.rows[].tax] - The tax rate in percent (e.g. `19`).
+   * @param {Array<string>|string} [input.rows[].eans] - The EANs to set.
+   * @param {string} [input.rows[].fatherSku] - The father article SKU for a V/K compound link.
+   * @param {number|string} [input.rows[].deposit] - The deposit (Pfand) value; currently ignored.
+   * @returns {Promise<{imported: Array<object>, skipped: Array<object>, errors: Array<object>}>} The import outcome.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * const result = await store.article.importRows({
+   *   googleAuthId: 42,
+   *   rows: [
+   *     { sku: '42001190-1', name: '420Strainz 1g', vk: 'K', parentCategory: 'Flowers | CBN', brand: 'Seedstockers', net: '11,00', tax: 19, eans: ['4262557690455'], fatherSku: '42001190' },
+   *     { sku: '42001190', name: '420Strainz', vk: 'V', parentCategory: 'Flowers | CBN', brand: 'Seedstockers', net: '0,00', tax: 19 },
+   *   ],
+   * });
+   * // => { imported: [...], skipped: [...], errors: [...] }
+   */
+  return async ({ googleAuthId, rows }) => {
+    const {
+      companyId,
+      languageId,
+      rootCategoryId,
+      posCustomerGroupId,
+      companyuserId,
+    } = await companyAccess(googleAuthId);
+
+    if (!Array.isArray(rows)) {
+      throw new Error('Invalid rows');
+    }
+
+    const imported = [];
+    const skipped = [];
+    const errors = [];
+    const usedEans = new Set();
+
+    // Pass 1: create articles (skip existing SKUs).
+    for (const row of rows) {
+      const sku = String(row?.sku ?? '').trim();
+      const name = String(row?.name ?? '').trim();
+
+      if (!sku || !name) {
+        errors.push({ sku: sku || null, name: name || null, error: 'Invalid row' });
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      const existing = await pool.request().input('sku', sku).query(GET_ID_BY_SKU);
+      if (existing.recordset[0]) {
+        skipped.push({ sku, name, reason: 'duplicate sku' });
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      let tx;
+      try {
+        tx = pool.transaction();
+        await tx.begin();
+
+        const unitId = await ensureUnit(tx, companyId, languageId);
+        const slug = slugify(name);
+
+        const article = await request(pool, tx)
+          .input('sku', sku)
+          .input('unitId', unitId)
+          .input('unitamount', 1)
+          .input('weight', 0)
+          .query(CREATE_ARTICLE);
+
+        const articleId = article.recordset[0].id;
+
+        // Resolve the parent category id (explicit id or breadcrumb path).
+        let parentId = row.parentId;
+        if (parentId == null && row.parentCategory) {
+          parentId = await ensureCategoryByPath(
+            { googleAuthId, parentId: rootCategoryId, path: row.parentCategory },
+            tx,
+          );
+        }
+        if (parentId == null) {
+          throw new Error('Parent category required');
+        }
+
+        await request(pool, tx)
+          .input('categoryId', parentId)
+          .input('articleId', articleId)
+          .query(ADD_CATEGORYARTICLE);
+
+        await request(pool, tx)
+          .input('articleId', articleId)
+          .input('languageId', languageId)
+          .input('name', name)
+          .input('slug', slug)
+          .query(CREATE_ARTICLETEXT);
+
+        await request(pool, tx)
+          .input('articleId', articleId)
+          .input('companyuserId', companyuserId)
+          .input('text', `Artikel "${name}" importiert`)
+          .query(INSERT_HISTORY);
+
+        // Brand (upsert by name).
+        const brandName = row.brand != null ? String(row.brand).trim() : '';
+        if (brandName) {
+          const brandId = await ensureBrand(tx, companyId, brandName);
+          await request(pool, tx)
+            .input('articleId', articleId)
+            .input('brandId', brandId)
+            .query(UPDATE_BRAND);
+        }
+
+        // POS price (net/tax).
+        const net = toNumber(row.net);
+        const taxRate = toNumber(row.tax) ?? 0;
+        if (net != null) {
+          const taxResult = await request(pool, tx)
+            .input('rate', taxRate)
+            .query(GET_BY_RATE);
+          let taxId = taxResult.recordset[0]?.id;
+          if (!taxId) {
+            const created = await request(pool, tx)
+              .input('rate', taxRate)
+              .query(CREATE_TAX);
+            taxId = created.recordset[0].id;
+          }
+          await request(pool, tx)
+            .input('taxId', taxId)
+            .input('articleId', articleId)
+            .input('minmultiplier', 1)
+            .input('customerGroupId', posCustomerGroupId)
+            .input('net', net)
+            .query(CREATE_PRICE);
+        }
+
+        // EANs (array, or a single value; skip duplicates within the import).
+        const rawEans = row.eans;
+        const eans = Array.isArray(rawEans)
+          ? rawEans
+          : rawEans == null || rawEans === ''
+            ? []
+            : [rawEans];
+        for (const ean of eans) {
+          const clean = String(ean ?? '').trim();
+          if (!clean || usedEans.has(clean)) continue;
+          const used = await request(pool, tx)
+            .input('ean', clean)
+            .query(EAN_EXISTS);
+          if (used.recordset[0]) continue;
+          await request(pool, tx)
+            .input('articleId', articleId)
+            .input('ean', clean)
+            .query(ADD_EAN);
+          usedEans.add(clean);
+        }
+
+        await tx.commit();
+        imported.push({ id: articleId, sku, name });
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (tx) {
+          try {
+            await tx.rollback();
+          } catch {
+            // ignore
+          }
+        }
+        errors.push({ sku, name, error: err.message ?? String(err) });
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Pass 2: wire V/K father links (fathers may be created in pass 1).
+    for (const row of rows) {
+      const sku = String(row?.sku ?? '').trim();
+      const fatherSku =
+        row?.fatherSku != null ? String(row.fatherSku).trim() : '';
+      if (!sku || !fatherSku) continue;
+
+      let tx;
+      try {
+        tx = pool.transaction();
+        await tx.begin();
+
+        const child = await request(pool, tx)
+          .input('sku', sku)
+          .query(GET_ID_BY_SKU);
+        const childId = child.recordset[0]?.articleId;
+        if (childId) {
+          const father = await request(pool, tx)
+            .input('sku', fatherSku)
+            .query(GET_ID_BY_SKU);
+          const fatherId = father.recordset[0]?.articleId;
+          if (fatherId && fatherId !== childId) {
+            await request(pool, tx)
+              .input('sku', sku)
+              .input('fatherArticleId', fatherId)
+              .query(UPDATE_FATHER_BY_SKU);
+            await request(pool, tx)
+              .input('articleId', fatherId)
+              .query(SET_IS_FATHER);
+            const childCount = await request(pool, tx)
+              .input('articleId', fatherId)
+              .query(GET_CHILD_COUNT);
+            const count = childCount.recordset[0].count;
+            // The child's sort is its 0-based position among the father's children.
+            await request(pool, tx)
+              .input('articleId', childId)
+              .input('fatherArticleId', fatherId)
+              .input('fathersort', count - 1)
+              .query(SET_FATHER_SORT);
+          }
+        }
+
+        await tx.commit();
+      } catch {
+        if (tx) {
+          try {
+            await tx.rollback();
+          } catch {
+            // ignore
+          }
+        }
+        // Non-fatal: article was already imported in pass 1.
+      }
+    }
+
+    return { imported, skipped, errors };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/store/article/setFatherBySku.js b/src/store/article/setFatherBySku.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97babbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/store/article/setFatherBySku.js
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import {
+  GET_ID_BY_SKU,
+  SET_FATHER_SORT,
+  SET_IS_FATHER,
+  UPDATE_FATHER_BY_SKU,
+} from '../../sql/article.js';
+import { GET_CHILD_COUNT } from '../../sql/articleDelete.js';
+import request from '../request.js';
+import queryBySku from './queryBySku.js';
+import resolveArticleBySku from './resolveArticleBySku.js';
+
+export default function setFatherBySku(pool) {
+  const resolve = resolveArticleBySku(pool);
+  const load = queryBySku(pool);
+
+  /**
+   * Links an article to a father article (V/K compound) by their SKUs.
+   *
+   * @param {number} googleAuthId - The id of the Google auth user.
+   * @param {string} sku - The child article SKU.
+   * @param {string|null} fatherSku - The father article SKU, or `null` to unlink.
+   * @returns {Promise<object>} The updated child article.
+   * @throws {Error} If the article or father is not found, or the link is invalid.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * const article = await store.article.setFatherBySku(42, '42001190-1', '42001190');
+   * // => { id, sku, name, fatherSku: '42001190', ... }
+   */
+  return async (googleAuthId, sku, fatherSku) => {
+    const { articleId, languageId } = await resolve(googleAuthId, sku);
+
+    if (fatherSku == null || fatherSku === '') {
+      await request(pool)
+        .input('sku', sku)
+        .input('fatherArticleId', null)
+        .query(UPDATE_FATHER_BY_SKU);
+      const unlinked = await load(articleId, languageId);
+      if (!unlinked) {
+        throw new Error('Article not found');
+      }
+      return unlinked;
+    }
+
+    const father = await pool
+      .request()
+      .input('sku', fatherSku)
+      .query(GET_ID_BY_SKU);
+    const fatherId = father.recordset[0]?.articleId;
+    if (!fatherId) {
+      throw new Error('Father not found');
+    }
+    if (fatherId === articleId) {
+      throw new Error('Invalid father');
+    }
+
+    const tx = pool.transaction();
+    await tx.begin();
+
+    try {
+      await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('sku', sku)
+        .input('fatherArticleId', fatherId)
+        .query(UPDATE_FATHER_BY_SKU);
+
+      await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('articleId', fatherId)
+        .query(SET_IS_FATHER);
+
+      const childCount = await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('articleId', fatherId)
+        .query(GET_CHILD_COUNT);
+      const count = childCount.recordset[0].count;
+
+      // The child's sort is its 0-based position among the father's children.
+      await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('articleId', articleId)
+        .input('fatherArticleId', fatherId)
+        .input('fathersort', count - 1)
+        .query(SET_FATHER_SORT);
+
+      await tx.commit();
+    } catch (err) {
+      try {
+        await tx.rollback();
+      } catch {
+        // ignore
+      }
+      throw err;
+    }
+
+    const article = await load(articleId, languageId);
+    if (!article) {
+      throw new Error('Article not found');
+    }
+
+    return article;
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/store/category/ensureByPath.js b/src/store/category/ensureByPath.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f508ec0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/store/category/ensureByPath.js
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import {
+  CREATE,
+  GET_BY_PARENT_AND_NAME,
+  GET_NEXT_SIBLING_SORT,
+} from '../../sql/category.js';
+import { CREATE as CREATE_CATEGORYTEXT } from '../../sql/categorytext.js';
+import resolveCategoryAccess from './resolveCategoryAccess.js';
+import request from '../request.js';
+import slugify from '../slugify.js';
+
+// Splits a "A | B | C" breadcrumb string into trimmed, non-empty name parts,
+// ordered root-first.
+export function splitPath(path) {
+  return String(path ?? '')
+    .split('|')
+    .map((part) => part.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+}
+
+export default function ensureByPath(pool) {
+  const access = resolveCategoryAccess(pool);
+
+  /**
+   * Resolves a category by breadcrumb path under a given parent, creating any
+   * missing categories along the way. Returns the leaf category id.
+   *
+   * @param {object} input - The category resolution input.
+   * @param {number} input.googleAuthId - The id of the Google auth user.
+   * @param {number} input.parentId - The id of the parent category to start from.
+   * @param {string} input.path - The breadcrumb path, e.g. `'Haupt | Flowers | CBN'`.
+   * @param {object} [tx] - Optional transaction to run within.
+   * @returns {Promise<number>} The id of the leaf category.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * const id = await store.category.ensureByPath({ googleAuthId: 42, parentId: 5, path: 'Haupt | Flowers | CBN' });
+   * // => 12
+   */
+  return async ({ googleAuthId, parentId, path }, tx) => {
+    const names = splitPath(path);
+    if (names.length === 0) {
+      throw new Error('Invalid category path');
+    }
+
+    let currentId = parentId;
+
+    const createCategory = async (tx, parentId, name, languageId) => {
+      const sortResult = await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('parentId', parentId)
+        .query(GET_NEXT_SIBLING_SORT);
+      const sort = sortResult.recordset[0].sort;
+      const slug = slugify(name);
+
+      const category = await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('parentId', parentId)
+        .input('sort', sort)
+        .query(CREATE);
+      const id = category.recordset[0].id;
+
+      await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('categoryId', id)
+        .input('languageId', languageId)
+        .input('name', name)
+        .input('slug', slug)
+        .query(CREATE_CATEGORYTEXT);
+
+      return id;
+    };
+
+    for (const name of names) {
+      const { languageId } = await access(googleAuthId, currentId);
+
+      const existing = await request(pool, tx)
+        .input('parentId', currentId)
+        .input('languageId', languageId)
+        .input('name', name)
+        .query(GET_BY_PARENT_AND_NAME);
+
+      if (existing.recordset[0]) {
+        currentId = existing.recordset[0].id;
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      if (tx) {
+        // Run within the caller's transaction (e.g. article import row).
+        currentId = await createCategory(tx, currentId, name, languageId);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // Standalone use: own transaction per created category.
+      const ownTx = pool.transaction();
+      await ownTx.begin();
+      try {
+        currentId = await createCategory(ownTx, currentId, name, languageId);
+        await ownTx.commit();
+      } catch (err) {
+        try {
+          await ownTx.rollback();
+        } catch {
+          // ignore
+        }
+        throw err;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return currentId;
+  };
+}