Three establishments in Roanne linked to food trades were liquidated by the commercial court this Wednesday, June 26: La Pataterie in Mably, l’Auberge de Cuinzier and Cocon in Roanne. With, each time, the evocation of the explosion of charges to explain the difficulties.
They have lowered the curtain. Permanent closure for three food establishments in Roanne after the pronouncement of their compulsory liquidation by the Roanne commercial court.
“A bill multiplied by 3”
Located in Mably, 2 rue de l’Artisanat, La Pataterie has seen its costs explode in recent months. “The electricity bill jumped in 2023, it was multiplied by three and we could not cope,” says the owner, Madison Boizet, also citing the increase in rent. At the same time, the restaurant had seen its attendance drop. “In the current context, people no longer have the same means as before, purchasing power has taken a hit and the average ticket has decreased,” analyzes the manager, also noting increased competition with the multiplication of restaurant tables in Roannais. The establishment employed nine employees.
An explosion in the energy rating is also the element highlighted by Ayrmione Demarly and Julien Chaput. Together, the young pastry chefs had opened a shared business concept around gluten-free, Place Victor-Hugo in Roanne. “This extraordinary adventure is coming to an end due to the colossal costs that we have to face. Energy costs, particularly those of EDF, and the significant increase in the prices of our raw materials make our continuation impossible”, explain the young couple in a post published on Facebook. Which announces that their adventure will now be written in the south of France.
In Cuinzier, it was the Auberge that definitively lowered the curtain. It was taken over by Catherine Gaudard and her partner Philippe Brossault in 2021, who transferred their catering activity here, then located in Ranchal.
A call for projects
The managers rented the structure as well as the accommodation located above from the municipality. “We were paying too many charges, particularly rent,” says Philippe Brossault, again referring to the 40% increase in the cost of food and the doubling of the electricity bill. The town hall had initiated expropriation proceedings against the couple, claiming payment arrears of more than 10,000 euros. “The media coverage of this procedure had a very violent effect: we suddenly lost almost 70% of our customers,” estimates the manager. Who also regrets that attendance has never lived up to expectations. “The forecast of 20 seats/day during the week has never been reached,” slips Philippe Brossault, who specifies that he has made local businesses work and has invested a lot in the community life of the region. And to summarize: “Our fixed costs were too high in relation to turnover. We were losing money every month”.
A new call for application projects is being prepared by the community of municipalities services to find future buyers of the inn.
A.M.
