“I don’t know the details of the company’s financial situation. What I can say, however, from my point of view, is that it is a great act of responsibility on the part of Philippe Ginestet to make this sale in the desire to perpetuate the brand that he created, forty-three years ago. Gifi chose to move upmarket, it was relevant at the time, but Action and others arrived at the same time,” comments Jean-Luc Guéry, president of GPI Medef 47. And add: “Now, if we can have one worry, it is that in the long term, a new owner will choose to relocate the headquarters and its functions. »
“It’s a risk and a cause for concern for the department,” says Frédéric Péchavy. For the president of CCI 47, “the choice of buyer belongs to Philippe Ginestet. He wants to sell and that cannot be discussed. It was in the pipeline so we're not surprised. Afterwards, it will be necessary to quickly be in contact with this owner to remind him of the relevance of remaining on our territory. Gifi is a large employer in Villeneuvois. The head office and its support functions must be preserved. »
“The number of employees is falling”
On the bastide side, this disaster scenario finds few relays. Many think, on the contrary, that the founder's attachment to this corner of Lot-et-Garonne will even make it possible to avoid it. “Maintaining employment and remaining in this department is the basic value,” underlines a close friend of Philippe Ginestet. In the meantime, the company, in a complicated situation, will have to hold on until a possible definitive sale. The big boss expressed his determination in a letter addressed to employees.
“We know the difficulties, but we are not kept informed of possible negotiations around a transfer. We know rumors, like those read in the press. Now, we can only see that the number of employees is falling from year to year, that those who want to leave are not retained,” observed a company employee on November 15.
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