Mélina Facchin 06h29, le 03 juin 2022

Adidas envisagerait de quitter son siège social français de Strasbourg, après plus de 60 ans passés en Alsace, pour rassembler tous ses locaux et employés à Paris. L'entreprise allemande admet en tout cas y réfléchir, ce qui inquiète beaucoup ses salariés alsaciens et met en colère les élus locaux.

Established in Alsace since 1959, Adidas plans to leave the region to bring all its offices together in Paris.

This was announced by management to its employees a few weeks ago.

The German sporting goods manufacturer first set up its French headquarters in Dettwiller, then Landersheim, before moving to brand new premises in Strasbourg 5 years ago.

Consequently, the possibility of leaving the region greatly worries Alsatian employees and angers many local elected officials.

"Adidas is in Alsace!"

The announcement had the effect of a crushing blow for the 140 Adidas employees who work here in Strasbourg.

"Adidas, it's in Alsace" proclaims like a slogan Olivier Apell, union representative, who recalls that the company has been established in Alsace since 1959. be interested in going to Paris and there is hardly anyone there," he reports.

“So we are talking about 140 people who will probably be transferred when they are opposed to it”.

An "unacceptable and incomprehensible" decision for elected officials

In a press release, the management of Adidas explains that bringing together the two existing sites in Paris "would facilitate relations with its partners".

But for many local elected officials, such as Frédéric Bierry, president of the European Community of Alsace, this decision would be "unacceptable and incomprehensible".

He says he is very disappointed: "We accompanied Adidas a lot a few years ago so that they stay in Alsace, that they are in a strategic location, opposite the European Parliament, in the heart of the business district", explains he.

"And so I cannot understand their decision, their arguments. And I admit that I am very worried," he concludes.

Adidas has pledged to make a decision in the coming weeks.