228 jobs saved, recovery project validated

2024-07-26 09:01:00

largeThe decision is firmly awaited. After analyzing three proposals to acquire the Duralex glass factory, the Orleans Commercial Court accepted on Friday, July 26, the proposal to create a cooperative production company (Scop), which was supported by 60% of the employees and also supported by the site management.

The partnership, which has the support of local elected officials, including the region, will maintain all jobs at the company that went into administration at the end of April. Vasco Da Silva, CSE secretary elected to the CFDT, said that until recently the company had 228 employees, but resignations and retirements have brought that number to 226.

The court said Scop appeared to be able to maintain “the activities of the employees in achievable conditions” and described it as a “coherent and serious marketing and commercial project” with “strong guarantees.”
READ ALSO Duralex, an almost unbreakable brand storyTwo other offers are under consideration for the French industrial flagship based in La Chapelle Saint-Mesmin, near Orleans: SARL Tourres et Cie, owned by Stéphanie and Adrien Tourres, which plans to retain 183 employees, and an offer from Carlesimo Investissements/GCB Investissements, which includes only 125 positions.

Many precedents

Duralex has faced frequent financial difficulties for about two decades. After completing a new bankruptcy administration three years ago, the company was hit by a surge in energy prices after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and was temporarily saved by a 15 million euro loan from the state.

In 2023, its turnover falls to 24.6 million euros, compared with more than 31 million euros in 2022.

The company, the pride of French industrial production and known as the “Eiffel Tower of cutlery”, had until now been controlled by the Compagnie française du verre, also the owner of Pyrex, which took over the company from the same court in 2021.

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