The Razor Center has just written the last chapter of its history. Without notice, the company specializing in the sale and repair of small kitchen appliances permanently closed many of its stores on Wednesday, following filing for bankruptcy protection in December.
The 10 branches owned by franchisees, out of a total of 34, might remain open. “We were not notified in advance,” confirms Roxane Larouche, spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, which represents 64 workers in 13 stores and a warehouse. In total, 150 employees worked for the company managed by the CDREM Group, whose president is Patrice Demers. The latter has also already owned the radio station CHOI Radio X in Quebec. Mr. Demers did not call back The Press. The company’s website is no longer active and no one answers the phone in the stores.
According to Mme Larouche, around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, workers at the warehouse located on Côte de Liesse Road in Lachine were asked to go to their lockers to pick up their personal belongings and leave.
Same scenario in the stores where the employees were asked to leave the premises because the locks were regarding to be changed. The trustee in charge of the file is Roy Métivier Roberge.
In December, a few weeks before Christmas, the company filed for bankruptcy protection. “I will put all my efforts into arriving at a proposal that is acceptable to our creditors, lessors and suppliers,” Mr. Demers wrote in an electronic message sent to his employees. This does not change your working conditions in any way. Your job and salary are not at risk. »
Eventually, the company resigned itself to closing shop.
Founded some sixty years ago, the Center durazor has gone through several changes. In 2014, the company announced the merger of its activities with Boutik Electrik, giving rise to a network of more than 80 stores. At the time, the majority of stores were run by franchisees. Five years ago, the Razor Center decided to review its strategy and several changes were made within its management team. The retailer had by then reviewed its brand image and had become the owner of a large majority of its stores.
