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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

“Make Our Anger Heard”: Marionnaud Stores Close in Protest at Unclear Takeover Plan

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Marionnaud unions called on employees to keep stores closed on Sept. 5, seeking guarantees over jobs and employment benefits during a proposed takeover.
  • The unions want written commitments on the future of the store network, potential departure terms and existing social protections.
  • Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison began discussions in July to sell the perfume chain to David Konckier, the main shareholder of Bogart.

Marionnaud employees have been told to keep the perfume chain’s stores closed in a show of anger over what unions describe as an unclear takeover plan. The inter-union group representing CGT, UNSA, CFDT and CFE-CGC called on the company’s roughly 2,400 workers to strike on Saturday, Sept. 5.

The unions are demanding written guarantees on job retention, the future of Marionnaud’s stores, possible departure terms and the preservation of existing social benefits. “The message is clear: do not open, pull down the shutters, make our anger heard,” they wrote in a statement.

The message is clear: do not open, pull down the shutters, make our anger heard.

· Marionnaud inter-union groupThe unions’ call for employees to close stores and strike over the proposed takeover.

The action affected stores in several cities. UNSA representative Myriam Dequéant said 14 of 20 stores in Lyon were expected to close, along with three of five in Toulouse and several in Paris, Marseille, Limoges, Fécamp, Nancy and Auxerre. Some stores would close for the afternoon, while others would shut for only one or two hours, depending on employees’ financial capacity to strike. An employee at a Limoges store confirmed that it would close on Saturday afternoon.

The employees of Marionnaud are not a variable for adjustment.

· Marionnaud unionsThe unions’ demand for guarantees over jobs and social benefits.

CK Hutchison announced on July 6 that it had entered discussions with David Konckier, the main shareholder of perfume and cosmetics group Bogart, over the sale of Marionnaud. The unions said the proposed terms offered “no sufficient guarantee for the future of our jobs and our social benefits.” Dequéant said the potential buyer had indicated that, if stores closed, it could offer no more than the legal minimum in departure compensation. A sales-target benefit worth up to a 14th month of pay for some employees also appeared to have been suspended since June.

Dequéant criticized what she called “catastrophic decisions” by the Hong Kong-based shareholder in recent years, including its pricing policy and cuts to beauty-care services that had helped retain customers. An extraordinary works council meeting was scheduled for Monday, with the union’s view described as highly reserved. Marionnaud reported about €536 million in revenue in France in 2024 and operates 377 stores there, while its European network includes nearly 700 outlets.

Catastrophic decisions

· Myriam DequéantThe UNSA representative’s criticism of the shareholder’s recent business decisions.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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