French food manufacturer Cofigeo is set to shut one of its local plants, impacting 142 jobs.
The closure of the factory in Lagny-sur-Marne, built in the early 1960s, is planned for the first half of next year.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the William Saurin and Garbit brands owner said the factory can “no longer sustainably meet the requirements for flexibility and modernisation”.
The Lagny-sur-Marne facility mainly produces French ready meals under brands like William Saurin as well as private labels.
Production there would be moved to two different sites: Capdenac in Aveyron and Pouilly-sur-Serre in Aisne.
In comments shared with Just Food, the company said a “very large share” of production would be transferred to the Capdenac site.
At Capdenac, the move would result in the creation of 41 roles.
The remaining production would be shifted to Pouilly-sur-Serre, where no additional jobs are planned, it told Just Food.
In a separate statement, Cofigeo said both sites have the “appropriate” scale and industrial processes to absorb the added volumes.
The project also provides for “strengthening” the logistics set-up at the Epaux-Bézu site in Aisne, it added.
The group said management’s focus would be to support impacted employees by offering them a “sustainable professional solution”.
Cofigeo has submitted the proposal to employee representative bodies as a “redeployment” of its industrial and logistics activities.
According to the company, the plan is intended to “sustain and revitalise” the range and competitiveness of its canned ready meals.
It is looking to invest in production, R&D, and marketing at the sites best structured to meet demand.
“This is the condition to remain competitive, win back our consumers, and consolidate our industrial presence in France over the long term,” said Mathieu Thomazeau, the president of Cofigeo.
However, the company assured it would maintain its manufacturing footprint in France with six plants, one logistics site, and one cabbage processing facility.
