2024-07-17 21:47:45
The fate of Duralex’s 228 employees will be decided by July 26. The Commercial Court of Orleans has considered a decision by July 26 on the fate of the iconic French glass factory, famous worldwide for its indestructible tableware, following a detailed analysis of three takeover offers on Wednesday, July 17.
The future of employees and trade unions has been thrown into maximum uncertainty since the company was placed into receivership at the end of April.
The Commercial Court spent six hours studying the three acquisition documents submitted for the relaunch of Duralex, a French industrial flagship company based in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loiret) in the metropolis of Orleans.
About 90 people, including regarding 20 employees, gathered before the hearing began, symbolizing the long wait. “We just ask the company to continue to survive”Michael Ramos explained on the steps of the courthouse that he is a Duralex employee for 29 years.
Of the three proposals, the one by the Cooperative Production Company (SCOP) was the best in terms of employment, with 60% of employees supporting it and support from site management. One hundred and fifty employees of the company supporting the project have even invested “Take 500 euros out of their pockets”according to the CFDT, a majority coalition.
The proposal to insure the entire workforce has the backing of local elected officials and the district, which has pledged support in the form of a bank guarantee.
“We want to control our own destiny”
François Bonneau, president of the Centre Loire Valley region, described his ‘Great hope’ what company “Tomorrow continue living through SCOP” save “An iconic product of the region”.
The city of Orléans has also offered to purchase the glass factory site for an estimated total price of between five and eight million euros to help convince banks to finance the project.
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“We are confident and we are waiting for the results: we want to take control of our destiny with this SCOP project”Suliman El Moussaoui, a representative of the CFDT union, told AFP.
The second offer is from SARL Tourres et CIEowned by Stephanie and Adrien Tourres. The couple owns two glass factories, Waltersperger (Seine-Maritime), which they took over in 2018 and specializes in the production of luxury cosmetic bottles with regarding 40 employees, and La Rochère (Haute-Saône), which specializes in table art and has regarding 40 employees. With regarding a hundred employees.
“We did a lot of work to present a reasonable and realistic project”Adrian Tures stressed at the end of his appearance. Mr. Tures described Duralex as “Iconic brand”saying he provided the answer « Positive factors » The plan envisages retaining 183 employees and creating technical and commercial synergies within the group.
The project was favored by CGT. “The support of industrialists will make more things happen” SCOP project, which it considers to be “Plan B”.
Frequent financial difficulties
The third offer came from Carlesimo Investissements/GCB Investissements, a family-owned industrial group that owns two foundries: Navylist International and Lory International, which specialize in the production of lead keels for ships. It proposed restoring only 125 jobs.
For regarding two decades, Duralex has often faced financial difficulties. Three years ago, following new legal recovery procedures, the company suffered from a surge in energy prices due to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A 15 million euro loan from the state temporarily saved the company. In 2023, its turnover fell to 24.6 million euros, compared with more than 31 million euros in 2022.
The company is the pride of French industrial production and is described as “Eiffel Tower dishes”It is currently owned by the French Glass Company, also the owners of Pyrex, which took over Pyrex in 2021 at the bar in the same court.
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