Two months after the liquidation of French appliance manufacturer Brandt, the Nanterre Commercial Court has received 36 takeover bids, according to reports from L’Informé and BFMTV. The offers cover a wide range of the group’s assets, including factories, brands, and an inventory of more than 172,000 household appliances.
Major Retail and Manufacturing Groups Step In
Several well-known players in the home and appliance sector have expressed interest:
– Fnac-Darty has submitted a €2.9 million bid to acquire Brandt’s brands and remaining stock.
– Fournier Group—owner of SoCoo’c, Mobalpa, Hygena, and Perene—has offered €500,000 specifically for the Sauter brand.
– Discount retailer Noz, known for buying liquidation stock (including Habitat’s unsold goods two years ago), has made a €4.5 million offer solely for Brandt’s inventory.
– Polish manufacturer Amica, active in 50 countries with over 300 employees, has proposed €2.5 million to acquire both the Brandt and Sauter brands.
Only Four Bids Include Employee Retention
Out of nearly 40 proposals, just four include plans to retain Brandt employees.
One of the most significant comes from the Île-de-France region and the Cergy-Pontoise municipality, which aim to take over the Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône factory and continue producing household appliances there. Public authorities have pledged €15 million to support the project.
Another bid comes from Stephan Français, head of Metavisio, who proposes keeping 150 employees by expanding the site’s production to include IT hardware—Metavisio notably manufactures Thomson computers. His offer totals €4 million, including €1.75 million for trademarks and patents.
Additional Local Offers
Two smaller proposals have also been submitted:
– The Orléans metropolitan area has offered €300,000 for Brandt’s brands.
– Dishwasher startup EverEver, which manufactures in France, has bid €25,000 for the Vendôme factory.
What Happens Next?
All bids are now under review by the court, Brandt’s administrators, and the Ministry of the Economy, which stated immediately after the liquidation that it would be “closely monitoring the case.”
Tag Archives: Brandt liquidation
Groupe Brandt Liquidated After Rescue Plan Fails: A Stark Warning for European Appliance Manufacturing
The curtain has fallen on one of France’s most iconic appliance manufacturers. On Thursday, December 11, the Nanterre Commercial Court ordered the liquidation of Groupe Brandt, marking the end of a months-long effort to save the company through an employee-led cooperative. The decision spells the loss of approximately 700 jobs and halts production of legacy brands including Brandt, De Dietrich, Sauter, and Vedette.
This outcome underscores a broader and troubling trend: the continued erosion of European-based appliance manufacturing in the face of global competition, financial fragility, and investor hesitancy.
A Last-Ditch Effort That Fell Short
The final hope for Groupe Brandt rested on a bold proposal—a Scop (Société coopérative et participative), or employee cooperative, backed by Groupe Revive and entrepreneur Cédric Meston, co-founder of plant-based food brand HappyVore. The plan aimed to preserve local jobs and maintain production in the historic Loiret and Loir-et-Cher regions by turning employees into co-owners.
Despite strong political and regional support, including €17 million in public funding from the French state, Centre-Val de Loire region, and the city of Orléans, the plan ultimately collapsed. The court deemed the proposal financially unviable, citing a shortfall of €3–8 million that banks refused to cover.
Political Will Meets Financial Reality
The rescue effort drew unprecedented political attention. Industry Minister Sébastien Martin pledged €5 million in state aid, while regional leaders rallied to raise additional funds. Yet, even with this show of unity, the private sector’s reluctance to assume risk proved decisive.
With no viable path to cover the remaining funding gap—and no means to pay salaries beyond December 15—the court had little choice but to proceed with liquidation.
What This Means for the Industry
Groupe Brandt’s collapse is more than a corporate failure—it’s a symbolic blow to the European white goods sector. Once a pillar of French industrial pride, Brandt’s demise highlights the vulnerability of legacy manufacturers in a capital-intensive, globally competitive market.
For industry watchers, the case raises urgent questions:
– Can cooperative ownership models realistically rescue distressed manufacturers?
– What role should public funding play in safeguarding industrial heritage?
– And how can Europe retain its foothold in appliance production amid mounting global pressures?
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the Brandt story will resonate far beyond France’s borders.
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