Radio Traverse has been echoing this for many weeks. This time, it's official. The Rougié site in Sarlat (Dordogne), a foie gras production workshop of the Euralis gastronomy group, will close. The news was announced this Wednesday, November 20.
The company, located in the Madrazès district, will lay off 73 people. A difficult decision to make, if we are to believe the leaders. “Since 2015, the sector has been in decline,” explains Bruno Traverse, the general director. Over the last nine years, there have been 10 million fewer ducks slaughtered. For us, this represents a loss of activity of 35%. »
Consumption falling
Already, in 2018, the Sarladais site had undergone a reorganization. “At that time, we were at 49% of the occupancy rate,” emphasizes Bruno Traverse. Today, we are at 19%. » A drop in activity which, according to him, has several causes. Avian flu on the one hand, with the vaccine which increases the cost of products. Then the purchasing power crisis: consumers eat less foie gras, seen as a luxury dish. And finally the evolution of consumption patterns, with less or no more meat at all. Without forgetting exports which have decreased.
“They hide behind the context. But there have been several strategies that have failed. It’s a whole”
“All of this does not allow us to regain our historic markets,” relates the director. For the moment, we do not yet know the official closure date of Rougié. “There will be a CSE [NDLR : comité social et économique] Friday November 29, book Bruno Traverse. We will know more at that time.” If Euralis has two other sites – one in Vendée, the other in the Hautes-Pyrénées – it is difficult to imagine Périgord employees changing region to stay in the group.
“Of course, this will be offered to them,” continues the manager. Technically, there is the possibility of rehousing everyone. But when you live here, it's complicated to consider a change of region. » The director assures him, “our priority, currently, is that social dialogue goes well to best support employees for the future”.
They do not refrain from acting
On the side of the employees, there is dismay. “It’s a massive blow,” confides one of them, on condition of anonymity. We believed in it without really believing in it. That said, it was clear that the activity was losing momentum. » Despite everything, even if employees are aware of the economic context of the sector in general, they point the finger at poor management by Euralis. “They hide behind the context,” says the same Sarladaise employee. But there have been several strategies that have failed. It's a whole. »
For the moment, no date of closure of the site has been communicated.
Boris Rebeyrotte
If, for the moment, no action is planned on the part of the 73 employees, they are not refraining from taking action. “There, it was the first information meeting,” explains La Sarladaise. That of November 29 will be the most important, since that is when we will know more, particularly on the dates. The meeting is set for 2 p.m. »
As for the site, it should be sold following the layoffs.
