( AFP / ERIC PIERMONT )
Nearly 140 positions should be removed at the Parisian headquarters of Pernod Ricard, who announced a reorganization plan in a context of general crisis in the spirits sector, according to information from the world published on Friday, and that the group has not denied.
The world’s number two of spirits had announced in internally the launch of a restructuring plan, with a consultation with its departure of departures over several months, “where it is necessary”, at the headquarters but not only.
The group’s headquarters, located behind Saint-Lazare station in Paris, should lose nearly 140 people, or around 17% of the workforce, according to information communicated internally and relayed by Le Monde. These departures would mainly receive executives and should be done on the basis of volunteer, it is added.
In France, the Martell brand, installed in Cognac, should also be affected by around thirty positions of posts, while in Champagne the employees of GH MUMM are in the expectation, in a context of possible transfer.
Solicited by AFP, Pernod Ricard has not denied this information, while social dialogue continues.
Pernod Ricard claims some 18,500 employees, including nearly 3,000 in France.
With this reorganization plan, the group would be reorganized in two divisions, instead of five: the division called “Gold” including aging alcohols, grape waters and champagne, and the “crystal” division for other drinks (white alcohols, aperitifs …), explained a source close to the group in June.
Pernod Ricard had again announced at the end of April a decline in his quarterly sales, from 3% to 2.3 billion euros, now his forecast for annual drop in his income in a “difficult” geopolitical context.
The entire sector suffers from customs conflicts with China and the United States, two major customers, but also changes in alcohol consumption modes on certain markets.
The context already has a social impact, with for example the intention expressed by Moët Hennessy (champagne, wines and spirits of LVMH) to reduce its workforce – the press evoking some 10% of the wage bill.
