Brandt: a French industrialist carries a takeover project for the Orléans factory, according to the town hall

Hope for Brandt employees? A French industrialist is proposing “a takeover project” for the Orléans site, after the judicial liquidation of the century-old household appliances group announced in mid-December, the city’s town hall announced on Tuesday.

“A French industrialist, familiar with this group of brands, with solid national and international experience, is carrying out a takeover project aimed at the reindustrialization of the Brandt site in Orléans, the preservation of the group’s brands and the re-employment of employees on the site,” indicates a press release from Orléans Métropole published Tuesday evening.

This industrialist, whose identity is not specified, will present his project on Wednesday during a press point scheduled for 11 a.m. at Orléans town hall. Serge Grouard, mayor of Orléans and president of Orléans Métropole, “mobilized tirelessly” to prevent the disappearance of this industrial site, according to the press release from his services.

“Don’t rush”

On December 11, the courts declared the liquidation of Brandt, a French industrial flagship, in great difficulty. The group employs some 700 people in France, including 350 in the Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle factory, within the Orléans metropolitan area.

The courts rejected a Scop (cooperative and participatory company) project, supported by the Revive group and the majority of employees, which was expected to save at least 370 jobs, as well as the Vedette, Sauter and De Dietrich brands. The State and communities were ready to mobilize around twenty million euros.

The Ministry of the Economy indicated Tuesday evening that it would “continue its consultations with elected officials and potential buyers”, the objective being to have “the most solid and long-lasting project possible”. He called for “not to rush”.

A call for tenders for the takeover of the factory must be launched in January, Bercy said. After the announcement of the liquidation of Brandt, the Minister for Industry Sébastien Martin stressed that an industrial project remained possible, not necessarily in the household appliances sector.