End of the road for Caddie. Two takeover bids for the company were expected at the commercial chamber of the Saverne (Bas-Rhin) judicial court. One was not supported, the other was not valid. The court therefore put an end to the almost century-old activity of the trolley manufacturer from Dettwiller (Bas-Rhin) during a hearing on July 16. 110 people will lose their jobs.
The first proposal came from Pascal Cochez, head of an eponymous industrial group in Valenciennes (North) and current director of the company. It concerned the trading and reconditioning of old trolleys. A project that abandoned manufacturing, and focused on the brand, known throughout the world, while keeping only 15 employees. A proposal that did not win the favor of the employees, nor that of the court.
It was Stéphane Dedieu, head of Caddie between 2014 and 2022, still a minority shareholder in the company today, who put forward the other takeover proposal. A project that would have allowed the production of trolleys to be maintained, to include reconditioning and also subcontracting, using the factory’s zinc plating line. This plan would have saved more jobs, 42, but faced several difficulties: the financing of the offer was not assured and it would not have started until September 15, leaving employees without pay until then. The offer was not presented on July 16.The lawyer indicated that he would not support her because he had failed to raise the suspensive conditions.“, says Pierre Dulmet, the company’s CSE lawyer.There was still hope for employees in Stéphane Dedieu’s projectcontinues Pierre Dulmet. Now we hope that the group assumes its responsibilities: there are salaries to pay and a PSE to finance».
Series of judicial reorganizations
The company founded in 1928 has gone through several crises in recent years, with four successive turnarounds. After several decades of prosperity, linked to the development of the consumer society and the rise of supermarkets, the difficulties began in 2010. Among the hard blows suffered in recent years, the relocation of part of the activity by the Polish group Damix, which owned the company between 2018 and 2022. It transferred the manufacture of small luggage trolleys to Poland. A profitable activity, leaving in Alsace the production of lower added value supermarket trolleys.
The new industrial project launched in 2022 was supported to the tune of nearly one million euros by the State and the Grand Est region. 750,000 euros of equity had been injected by the partners. Funds that were not enough to keep the project alive. Although in recent months the possibility of a takeover by employees as a SCOP was studied, it was not retained. The decision of this July 16 should therefore mark the end of the company.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
