Grise mine in factories. The Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, said on Monday that it was "not normal" that the sugar group Tereos closes its production site of Escaudœuvres, in the North, while it "earns money". He is due to visit the site in the afternoon to talk to management and unions. His visit to the North will also pass through Caudry where the future of the Buitoni factory remains uncertain.
"I want to understand the figures, because at this stage, a company that makes money that closes a factory, I think it's not normal," the minister said of Tereos, on Sud Radio. What they are telling us is that they expect beet production to decline in the next two years and that they plan to reconsolidate production in three out of four plants. »
Reduction of 123 posts
The historic site of the group, owner of Béghin-Say, was soon to celebrate its 150th anniversary, but on Wednesday, the management announced its closure by mid-June, and the elimination of 123 positions, due to a "sustainable reduction" in beet production in 2023-24, with, in the Escaudœuvres sector, a decrease in sown areas of more than 10%.
"For the moment, the production of beets it has not decreased, for the moment, the famous aphid, it has not hit," exclaimed Roland Lescure, estimating that "we cry fire when we have not seen a spark".
At Buitoni too
The minister must also visit the bedside of the employees of the Buitoni factory in Caudry, just a few kilometers away, whose Nestlé group has announced a suspension of activity due to a drop in sales, following a serious health scandal.
He wants the plant to remain open, and called on Nestlé, owner of the site, to continue investing in France and Caudry. According to La Voix du Nord, about 600 people demonstrated on Monday morning in the streets of the city, to protest against the threat of closure.
- Economy
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- Nestlé
- Sugar
- Factory
- Closure
- Minister
- Dismissal
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- Lille
- Hauts-de-France