Bonduelle announced on Thursday that it wants to sell its loss-making bagged salad business in France and Germany, which will allow the group to concentrate on its fresh catering offerings.
(AFP / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV)
The French specialist in processed vegetables has informed its employees of its plan to close the Saint Mihiel site in the Meuse department (159 people) for which “it is first looking for a buyer”, and “is at the same time initiating a social dialogue to support each individual”, the group’s communications director, Céline Barral, told AFP.
“Around forty employees” are also affected by a voluntary departure plan at the headquarters of Bonduelle Frais, which includes the bagged salad and catering activities, a booming segment, she added.
In addition, “an exclusive negotiation” has been launched with Les Crudettes of the LSDH group for the resumption of the bagged salad business in France, and with Taylor Farms in Germany, the company added in a press release.
Bonduelle entities in the United States and Italy are spared from these projects which are supposed to allow the group to “accelerate its activities in the fresh catering, canning and frozen food markets” in Europe, the press release explains.
Sales of Bonduelle’s bagged salads, launched in 1997, have been in decline for years, with an estimated 15% drop over the past seven years, according to group figures.
“Before, salad was eaten as a starter, today, we eat differently. There is also the factor of inflation and purchasing power which affects this sector, and finally, the exacerbated competition from distributor brands,” explained Ms. Barral.
Bonduelle, headed by Xavier Unkovic since June 2023, saw its turnover fall by 1.4% to 2.37 billion euros over the entire staggered year 2023-2024, which ended on June 30 without reaching its annual sales target.
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