The management of Flunch, placed in January under safeguard procedure while the sign was hard hit by the health crisis, announces that it is hopeful of finding buyers for the 57 restaurants it wants to sell and launch a plan to "regenerate" the brand.
"The brand is not dead, it must be regenerated," said the general manager of the restaurant brand Flunch, Thierry Bart, in an interview with AFP on Wednesday, ensuring that "Flunch was still functioning well before the Covid ".
The management of the company, placed in January under safeguard procedure when the brand was hit hard by the health crisis, announces that it is hopeful of finding buyers for the 57 restaurants it wants to sell.
57 out of 160 restaurants
Born in 1971 and belonging to the constellation of companies of the Mulliez group, Flunch claimed 55 million customers served per year before the Covid in 227 restaurants but saw its turnover collapse in 2020. The management announced that it wanted to be separate from 57 restaurants out of the 160 or so that it owns in its own right, and not under franchise.
They employ around 1,200 people.
"We requested a backup procedure to save time in terms of cash flow, while waiting for the reopening (scheduled for June 9, editor's note) and we organized a recovery plan for these 57 restaurants because our ambition is to save as many jobs as possible, "Thierry Bart stressed on Wednesday.
It reports 25 takeover files filed by employees or franchisees of Flunch and 38 from outside brands.
"I think we will reduce the PSE (Plan to safeguard employment) in a determined way," he added, without putting forward a figure.
Unions skeptical of the transformation plan
Flunch will offer preferential conditions to its employees, with, among other things, a buyout of the business for a symbolic euro and training. The manager promises a "360-degree transformation" of the brand through the development of three new restaurant concepts, including a "food hall" bringing together various kiosks, the development of delivery and take-out. The unions are showing their skepticism about these projects while denouncing the "very bitter discussions" within the framework of the PES.
Among the outdoor brands that could take over restaurants are "KFC, McDonald's, Domino's Pizza", list Grégory Dubois (CFDT) and Philippe Delahaye (CFE-CGC), fearing that they will employ "less staff, with more precarious contracts" .
As for the "small" internal buyers, union representatives doubt that they have the means to invest in developing these concepts.
According to an audit report presented to the Social and Economic Committee, in recent years the Mulliez group has favored the payment of dividends and the development of other brands it owns rather than investing in Flunch.