Desperate, employees of Maison Colibri appeal to one of the greatest French fortunes

The letter was directly addressed on November 28 to Daniel Roullier, founder and historical figure of the eponymous group. A “cry from the heart”, revealed by the company’s social and economic committee to “Parisien” – “Today in France” and which, for the time being, has remained unanswered. Faced with the announced death of their factory (owned by the Roullier group via its subsidiary Paticeo), the employees of Maison Colibri question in a long text this “captain of industry” who is among the greatest French fortunes.

“We invite you to come yourself”

Known for its madeleines and a history that began in 1896 in Pons (Charente-Maritime), Maison Colibri must close its doors “at the end of 2026”. Paticeo is currently negotiating a job protection plan (PSE) for 68 employees – the factory also relies on dozens of temporary workers. To avoid a disastrous fate, its employees appeal to Daniel Roullier. “We were deeply upset to learn, overnight, of the closure of the site, without consultation, without notice, without means of dialogue (…) Around a hundred families, committed women and men, would thus be left by the wayside, as if their commitment, their sacrifices, the removal of the 13th month for two years, the exceptional flexibility, the work on weekends and public holidays, their efforts and their pride, had not counted,” they wrote in this letter, referring to a deep “wound”.

Faced with the difficulties encountered by the Pontoise factory, “we fought tirelessly to try to get things back on track”, they continue, but “no manager sought to explain, prevent, dialogue, co-construct or simply listen to us”. The employees who express themselves in this letter through their social and economic committee (CSE) denounce “a lack of consideration”. They call on Daniel Roullier to personally come to Pons: “We humbly, but forcefully, invite you to come yourself.”

For the moment without news from the founder of the Roullier group, the employees of Maison Colibri decided on a “strong gesture” this Tuesday, December 9: “For the first time in decades, we will symbolically walk out in front of the factory, our work tool for 130 years. »

Everyone fears a relocation of the industrial tool to other sites managed by Paticeo such as that of Derval (Loire-Atlantique) where this subsidiary recently announced an investment of 20 million euros. In Pons, employees of Maison Colibri are still hoping for an electric shock and a gesture from Daniel Roullier. “Let’s change the destiny of our factory together,” they conclude for him. Contacted via its communications agency, the Paticeo subsidiary has not yet responded to requests from “Parisien” – “Today in France”.