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.