Published: 7:37 p.m. by Nicolas Terrien
Following the destruction by flames of its Contres production unit on the night of December 13 to 14, the famous chocolate factory is on all fronts: reassuring its employees, ensuring this holiday period as best as possible, managing the disaster and quickly recovering production capacities. Reporting.
“The only certainty is that the building is completely destroyed, and that it will not be possible to move there again.” This Wednesday, December 18 at the beginning of the afternoon, Emmanuel Le Goff receives insurance experts on the disaster site of his company in Controis-en-Sologne. Just a few hours after the fire was declared contained by the firefighters who observed a few new outbreaks of flames in the morning. “The gendarmerie investigation is still ongoing,” sweeps away the director of the chocolate factory taken over two years ago from its creator, Max Vauché. So good that we still do not know the reasons for this outbreak of fire which perhaps occurs at the worst time of the year for the company. “We know that this period represents 500,000 euros in turnover,” confides the manager. “Christmas is the most important time of the year for us. We were able to start it, but it is not certain that we will be able to finish it.”
Employees on partial unemployment
In fact, it is from Contres that most of the product ranges sold in the Max Vauché boutiques in Contres, Bracieux, Blois and Tours are made. “Some elements are produced in Bracieux, but it will not go to the end.” Thus, stores could well lower the curtain before the weekend, due to lack of supply. With the consequence of the partial unemployment of the ten people who work there, after the 35 of the production already forced to stop. “Our employees follow us”, rejoices Emmanuel Le Goff, the day after a meeting where he assured them of the payment of their salaries over the period. What is lost is therefore lost, but the director is looking for solutions for a rapid restart, despite the administrative and insurance procedures which will inevitably take time. “We are looking for temporary premises, and we are studying the possibilities offered to us.”
Hundreds of messages of support
And these solutions emanate in particular from this special meeting which took place last Monday at the prefecture, at the express request of prefect Xavier Pelletier! Since then, regular situation updates have been carried out under the aegis of the State and local elected officials. And this general mobilization is also found in all the support that the company receives. “I received more than 150 messages from everywhere,” confides Emmanuel Le Goff, whose voicemail is completely saturated. “In our stores too, customers show us their support. This is what keeps us going through this ordeal.” And this is also what makes the business leader determined to restart production as quickly as possible, in order to start 2025 under better auspices. “The goal would be to at least be ready for Easter!” In the meantime, we will have to turn our backs during this end-of-year holiday season…
